🔥 Hawks Youth Spark the Comeback
To be honest, it didn’t seem like one of those games where a rebuilding team has a chance. Hawthorn came in as underdogs and lost star defender James Sicily to injury. To the crowd at UTAS Stadium, a loss was expected, but at the very least, they wanted a decent fight from their boys. And yet, that’s not what happened.
The feeling was there in the third quarter. With the Hawks down by 4, their young players seemed to ‘turn it on.’ Mabior Chol’s goal was the spark, and from there, Connor Macdonald added fuel to the fire with his quick snap goal. Sure, it was sharp, and he didn’t give the defenders time to breathe, but it wasn’t pretty. Still, it was footy.
I mean, Jai Newcombe didn’t just play; he commanded the game. Cam Mackenzie threw himself into the tackles like a madman. Instead of looking like they were holding down the fort, the boys looked like they had been given the keys. Which, in this league, is rare. Their comeback was so dominant that it felt like luck had no part to play. It was sheer determination.
👀 Everything Changed Because of Adelaide’s Missed Chances
Now Crows, this was your game to lose. You guys were up 35 to 31 by three quarter time. And you seemed sharper, more powerful, and calmer. But with footy, it’s not just your stats that matter — it’s the momentum. Adelaide lost theirs fast.
Taylor Walker had two glorious opportunities and he squandered both. You could see his frustration with those little head shakes. Anthony Edwards? He’s usually the space guy. Tonight? 16 points and barely involved.
And it wasn’t just the no-shoots. Sloppy movement and panic kicks and handballs to elbowed arms. After the second Hawks goal, something shifted. The Crows looked shaken. Like they were caught off-guard by this version of the Hawks and had zero clue how to counter.
Coach Matthew Nicks sat on the bench looking tight. Not angry. Just disappointed. Like you planned a win, but it dissipated.
📣 Fan Reactions Capture The Essence
The internet was on fire. Fans were not just captured — they were living.
One tweet said this:
👉 “These Hawks kids play with heart. Future’s bright.”
Another response was:
👉 “Crows looked lost out there. What even happened?”
Instagram stories from inside the UTAS stadium displayed fans going wild after Chol’s goal. One reel showcased a young Hawks fan gleefully high-fiving people in the aisle. That’s the kind of spirit this game brought.
The players were hyped too. Chol screenshot his story where he reposted video with flames emojis. Macdonald captioned his reaction saying, “Let’s gooo!” with a hawk emoji. These reactions were genuine.
Whenever matches affect the audience in this manner, drawing out emotions rather than simply discussing the number of points scored, you can tell there’s something extraordinary about it.
Game Quick Highlights
🟤 While James Sicily is absent, the rest of the team picks up the slack.
🔁 Cam Mackenzie and Jai Newcombe were so present it felt like they cloned themselves.
🎯 Crows coming out the gate strong but definitely lacking in execution — slow getting to the finish line.
🔄 Everything changes and you just can’t help but feel a shift in the overall vibe of the game.
👀 Insta is filled with fan videos as soon as the game ends.
🧠 I can say that this belief was not a random occurrence.
Image Source: AFL
