The Hawks extended their winning streak in Launceston to 12 games on Thursday night with a 10.15 (75) to 9.12 (66) victory.
It came two days after the club were told by the AFL their association with the island state would finish at the end of 2027 ahead of the Tasmania Devils' entry into the competition.
The pain was compounded for the Crows, who lost gun midfielder Izak Rankine to a calf problem early in the third quarter.
Rankine will undergo scans, with Adelaide having the bye next round.
The Hawks weren't without their problems - livewire Nick Watson, who kicked two goals, copped a nasty head knock and stayed out on the field for several minutes before being assessed.
He ultimately passed the test and was allowed to continue playing.
"I've got full faith in our medical team. (Our doctor) went out to him straight away. He passed the tests," coach Sam Mitchell said.
Adelaide went on a run of four goals to reduce the margin to one point in the latter stages of the fourth quarter.
But veteran Hardwick stepped up with a pack mark inside 50 and goal with less than three minutes to play.
Mitchell said the 29-year-old stepped up in the absence of Jack Gunston.
"He's a phenomenal footballer. His contest is outstanding," Mitchell said.
"He'll get a lot of credit for tonight, and so he should. He kicked four, regularly he's stopping four or more."
Down 63-43 heading into the final quarter, Adelaide rocketed back into the contest with back-to-back majors to Darcy Fogarty and Jake Soligo in a matter of minutes.
When Callum Ah Chee booted truly it appeared a Crows comeback would be completed, but the Hawks held strong despite kicking just one final-quarter goal.
Earlier, Adelaide opened the scoring after just 16 seconds when Ah Chee streaked away for a goal and got out to an early 25-8 advantage as Jordan Dawson and Rankine ran riot.
Hardwick, who hadn't kicked a goal since round 12 last season, picked up two first-quarter majors to keep his side in the hunt and just 12 points behind at quarter time.
The Crows threatened to pull away when big man Lachlan McAndrew snapped successfully early in the second, but Hawthorn came to life with a run of five goals leading into halftime.
Hawthorn kicked the first two after halftime in a run of seven majors before Adelaide's Zac Taylor snapped on the run in the dying stages of the third.
"We just weren't able to play our best for long enough," Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said.
"For whatever reason we drop off. Seven in a row ... just isn't going to get it done."
Dawson was among the Hawks' best with 28 disposals, four clearances and one goal, while the Crows' Wayne Milera was the game-high possession-getter with 32.
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