HAWTHORN young gun Jacob Koschitzke has slotted five goals as his side notched a thrilling three-point comeback AFL win over Adelaide in Launceston.
The Hawks broke through for their second victory of the season despite a stunning debut from Crows’ teenager Riley Thilthorpe, who booted five majors of his own.
Hawthorn trailed by 32 points in the third quarter on Sunday afternoon but finished with a wet sail in the 15.12 (102) to 16.3 (99) victory.
Adelaide had several chances in the last quarter to steal victory but couldn’t get past Hawthorn’s scramble.
It is Hawthorn’s first win since Round 1, when they came from 39 points down to beat Essendon.
In just his fifth top-grade game, Koschitzke kicked three in a free-flowing opening quarter that set the tone for the match.
Adelaide, which hadn’t played at University of Tasmania Stadium since 2010, went on a six-goal run in the second term to open up a 84-59 halftime lead.
Remarkably, the Crows scored 15 goals straight without registering a behind.
Eighteen-year-old Thilthorpe, last year’s No.2 draft pick, was a colossus up front and grabbed several pack marks to score three goals in succession.
Thilthorpe also netted 16 disposals and one goal assist after shaking off early nerves, resulting in turnovers off his first two touches.
He opened the scoring in the third term with a mark on the goal line, with the Crows threatening to run away with the contest.
But the Hawks mustered a revival to reduce the margin to 97-84 heading into the final term.
They got to within a point when Mitch Lewis slotted his second of the day, a series of behinds giving them the lead as they held the Crows to just two points for the quarter.
Jaeger O’Meara topped the possession count for Hawthorn with 31, while Rory Laird had a game-high 32 touches.
The Crows remain on the fringe of the eight and are now 3-3 to start the season, while Hawthorn is 2-4.
(C) AAP 2021
HAWTHORN 5.2 9.5 13.6 15.12 (102)
ADELAIDE 4.0 14.0 16.1 16.3 (99)
Goals: Hawthorn: J Koschitzke 5 L Breust 3 M Lewis 2 J Impey J O’Meara J Scrimshaw T O’Brien T Phillips. Adelaide: R Thilthorpe 5 T Walker 3 E Himmelberg 2 S McAdam 2 B Keays H Schoenberg N McHenry P Seedsman.
Umpires: Leigh Haussen, Craig Fleer, John Howorth.
Venue: University of Tasmania Stadium.
