Another AFL finals campaign is secure, but Adelaide coach Neil Craig says his side's challenge now is to become a more formidable opponent when it matters.

The Crows ensured they would play this September when they beat Hawthorn by 27 points at the MCG on Friday night, and the victory also kept them in the hunt for a spot in the top four.

Hawthorn's defeat all but ended their chances of reaching the finals.

Craig said only his players could prove they were tired of just making up the numbers.

This season's finals series will be Adelaide's fifth in succession, but they have not won a post-season game since the 2006 qualifying final, and in the past two seasons have been eliminated in week one.

Once finals start there will be the speculation about our record and we understand that, Craig said after the 13.16 (94) to 9.13 (67) win.

"It's there, and it's not going to change until we change it."

That question mark over Adelaide remains, but Craig suspected his current side had the right mettle, as Friday night's win - when they overcame a five-goal deficit - proved they had fight.

"Our next challenge is to do a bit more in finals," he said.

"I just believe this group has got the energy and the want and desire to give it their best shot."

Craig said Adelaide wanted the double chance even if finishing fourth meant playing rampant St Kilda in a first-up final, whereas finishing fifth would earn a home elimination final against the eighth-best side.

"Our aim will be to win the next two games and see how it all falls out," he said.

"I haven't looked at the draw for the last couple of weeks but it's getting a bit messy ... if we're going to be good enough you have to beat St Kilda and Geelong, so I reckon just go for it."

Among the good outcomes from Adelaide's win was the performance of four-goal forward Trent Hentschel, in just his third game since overcoming serious leg injuries that sidelined him through 2007-08.

"He played at a high speed and he played what I called 'hard footy' and we wanted Trent to do that, not just meander through the game and be tentative, because he wants to find out himself, he's not into just hanging around the footy club," he said.

"Trent's mentality is that he wants to perform, so he was keen to try as hard as he could and some really positive signs came out."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson conceded it would "pretty tough" for the reigning premier to reach the finals, and said even if it did, getting there with 10 wins would be doing so by default.

He said the Hawks' aim now was to finish the season on a high note, and beat Richmond and Essendon in their remaining games.

"It will be tough for us (to play the finals), and well still hang in there in terms of just wanting to play good footy and finish off the season in a good manner, Clarkson said.

Adelaide's remaining games are against West Coast and Carlton.

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