Crows trounce under strength Hawthorn

Adelaide strolled to a predictable 67-point victory over an unrecognisable Hawthorn
side in their AFL practice match at Berri Oval on Saturday.
The Crows weathered an early harrying effort by the undermanned Hawks, which saw the
first term elapse without a goal, before building some confidence for the regular
season by winning 15.10 (100) to 5.3 (33).
Nathan Bock, Chris Knights and Bernie Vince were the prime movers for the Crows,
while up forward knee injury survivor Trent Hentschel (four goals) and young
livewire Taylor Walker (three) showed they could grow into a devastating tandem.
Matthew Suckling, Ben McGlynn and Simon Taylor all worked hard for the overmatched
Hawks.
For Hawthorn, only back-up ruckman Brent Renouf took part among the Hawks' 2008
premiership 22, with numerous ring-ins from the club's Box Hill affiliate filling
out the travelling squad.
Adelaide also rested numerous senior players, but their side remained relatively
strong with the likes of Brent Reilly, Bock and Hentschel on the ground.
There was some experimentation from the Crows, forward/ruckman draftee James Sellar
showing some promising early touch in defence to indicate his future may not have to
be at the attacking end of the ground.
What they lacked in class, the makeshift Hawks made up for in grit in the opening
minutes, fighting the Crows to a first term stalemate.
The Crows re-jigged their forward line slightly in the second quarter and found a
useful focal point in Kurt Tippett (two goals) to start asserting some scoreboard
dominance.
Majors to him, Hentschel and Walker gave Adelaide a four-goal halftime advantage.
Walker's confidence and poise around goal proved dangerous.
In the final term Hentschel and Walker added to their hauls while defensive
playmaker Bock ran downfield to get his name on the scoresheet.