Adelaide vs Hawthorn AFL finals LIVE: Crows roll the dice with their sub choice, Hawks’ chance to pounce
By Russell Bennett,Sam McClure,Scott Spits,Steve Barrett
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Adelaide vs Hawthorn AFL finals LIVE: Crows roll the dice with their sub choice, Hawks’ chance to pounce
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Adelaide vs Hawthorn AFL finals LIVE: Crows roll the dice with their sub choice, Hawks’ chance to pounce
By Scott Spits, Sam McClure, Steve Barrett and Russell Bennett
Updated September 12, 2025 — 7.15pmfirst published at 6.31pm
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6.45pmWhat happened last time?
6.33pmThe teams as selected
6.32pmAdelaide’s assignment: Footy history to avoid
6.28pmGood evening and welcome
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Adelaide’s assignment: Footy history to avoid
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The substitutes tonight
Adelaide have made a fascinating choice. They’ve lobbed for Josh Rachele as their sub in his return match from injury. It’s quite a similar situation to last week when GWS Giants went for Josh Kelly as their designated replacement player on the bench.
That player Jack Ginnivan
Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan gave the finger to Adelaide fans last time.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Jack Ginnivan is never far from the spotlight.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Today’s footy news … Melbourne has a new King
Nathan Buckley is firming as Tasmania’s inaugural AFL senior coach after Steven King was handed the top job at Melbourne, replacing the sacked Simon Goodwin.
King becomes the 28th AFL/VFL senior coach of Melbourne, who chose the Geelong assistant ahead of former Collingwood coach Buckley and other shortlisted contenders including James Kelly, Daniel Giansiracusa and Brendon Lade.
Collingwood assistant Hayden Skipworth was also in the running, but pulled out before interviews were conducted this week.
Buckley was the hot favourite to land the Demons role, but also publicly expressed he was still weighing up what was the best fit for his future.
The 53-year-old is now frontrunner to become the inaugural coach of the Tasmania Devils, who are on track to join the AFL in 2028.
King was taken to hospital in September last year after collapsing while mid-conversation at Geelong training.
The 46-year-old was in the running for the head coaching role at West Coast at the time, with Andrew McQualter eventually winning out.
King, who is Geelong’s midfield coach and previously served as Gold Coast’s caretaker coach for seven matches after Stuart Dew’s sacking in 2023, will remain at the Cats until the end of their finals campaign.
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What happened last time?
By Scott Spits
It was only a few weeks ago …
Well, five weeks to be exact. Hawthorn travelled across the border for a clash against the Crows at Adelaide Oval, and the highly regarded home team got the points. But, in case you’ve forgotten, the man in the spotlight that night was none other than Hawthorn goal-sneak Jack Ginnivan.
Jack Ginnivan playing the pantomime villain in Adelaide.Credit: Fox Footy
The teams as selected
Backs: Josh Worrell 24, Mark Keane 48, Rory Laird 29
Half Backs: Wayne Milera 30, Nick Murray 9, Mitchell Hinge 20
Centres: Isaac Cumming 44, Jordan Dawson 12, Daniel Curtin 6
Half Forwards: Ben Keays 2, Riley Thilthorpe 7, Alex Neal-Bullen 28
Forwards: Zac Taylor 19, Taylor Walker 13, Darcy Fogarty 32
Rucks: Reilly O’Brien 43, James Peatling 25, Jake Soligo 14
Interchange: Josh Rachele 8, Luke Pedlar 10, Sam Berry 3, Max Michalanney 16, Brodie Smith 33
Emergency: Lachlan Murphy 4, Jordon Butts 41, Billy Dowling 31
In: Josh Rachele
Out: Hugh Bond (omitted)
Backs: Josh Battle 24, Tom Barrass 37, Blake Hardwick 15
Half Backs: Jarman Impey 4, James Sicily 6, Massimo D’Ambrosio 16
Centres: Kark Amon 10, Josh Ward 25, Dylan Moore 13
Half Forwards: Connor Macdonald 31, Mabior Chol 18, Nick Watson 34
Forwards: Jack Gunston 19, Mitch Lewis 2, Jack Ginnivan 33
Rucks: Lloyd Meek 17, Jai Newcombe 3, Conor Nash 11
Interchange: Jack Scrimshaw 14, James Worpel 5, Sam Butler 30; Josh Weddle 23, Changkuoth Jiath 9
Emergency: Luke Breust 22, Cam Mackenzie 28, Ned Reeves 7
In: Mitch Lewis
Out: Calsher Dear (injured)
Adelaide’s assignment: Footy history to avoid
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Good evening and welcome
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s AFL finals coverage.
It’s sudden-death all the way from here. It’s bound to be a compelling clash at the Adelaide Oval as minor premiers Adelaide take on a dangerous Hawthorn outfit in the first semi-final of the weekend. It will be curtains for the loser tonight.
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