Overview

• Hawthorn beat Adelaide 14.17 (101) to 10.7 (67) at Adelaide Oval to reach its first preliminary final since 2015.
• Jai Newcombe collected 28 disposals and eight clearances in a best-on-ground display, while Jack Gunston kicked five goals.
• Coach Sam Mitchell said he has no regrets about a reported meeting with Essendon captain Zach Merrett and declined to provide details.
• Merrett is contracted at Essendon for two more seasons, and the reported approach has drawn scrutiny of Hawthorn’s recruiting after a similar episode with West Coast captain Oscar Allen, who has nominated Brisbane as his preferred destination.
• Mitchell said the team shed last year’s Adelaide Oval heartbreak and now faces Geelong on Friday night at the MCG.