Crows bracing for physical Hawks

The Adelaide Crows are bracing themselves for Hawthorn's overtly-physical tactics in Friday night's AFL semi-final, says defender Rory Laird.

The Adelaide Crows say they'll embrace expected strong-arm tactics from Hawthorn in Friday night's AFL semi-final.

The Hawks roughed up Adelaide in their 29-point win in round 12 but defender Rory Laird says the Crows won't be sucked in by Hawthorn's overtly-physical tactics.

"If they come out and do that, good on them - we'll embrace that," Laird told reporters on Monday.

"It's finals. It's a do-or-die situation again.

"A lot of emotion comes in for these big games and we'll embrace it, the physicality of the games ... it will be rough but you want to be smart with how you do it."

In the only encounter between the clubs this season, Hawthorn physically targeted Adelaide captain Taylor Walker and small forwards Eddie Betts and Charlie Cameron.

But Laird said the Crows, who pipped the Western Bulldogs by seven points in an elimination final on Saturday night, were a more mature outfit now to deal with such tactics.

"Last time we were in the game for three-and-a-half quarters, it was just a few lapses here and there," he said.

"I think we have got every right to be confident in the way we have been playing recently."

The Crows believed they had the capability to become the first club to win a premiership under the current finals format despite finishing outside the top four.

"Why not us?," Laird said.

"We have come this far. I think we are playing some really good footy against some top teams so we're full of confidence."


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Source: AAP


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