Autopsy Round 21, 2025: Hawks can’t get it done against the Crows

[Lickmesocks]

Had a few mates tonight.

Oh well, selection opportunities for others

Noticed this a lot tonight where players just completely stopped and gave up on the leading player or refused to go with their opponent.

 

[ReturningHawk]

Connor Macdonald needs to lift. His spot's in danger at the moment.

 

[Adebisi]

We are a team of very even B grade Blue collar guys. This is great but you need your top tier game changing stars, we just don’t have them right now. Only Day comes to mind right now and he is so reckless in his attack (which is awesome) but i think he is going to have to learn when to pick his spots cos i worry for his body.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Definitely not as bad as made out to be.

There were some key notes:

- Arresting momentum is a key focus point, this comes with leadership and not allowing run ons of goals. When Hawthorn are on, it’s beautiful. Times there needs to be a scrap, fight and want to keep it tight or maintain possession during moments where the other team has momentum.

- Not over using the ball. All well and good to use the footy and get out of contest, which Hawthorn do brilliantly well. It’s about when you’re in space, especially tonight with more talls. Kick long and play a front-half game. Many times there were one too many handballs and that is a simple problem to fix, that would’ve saved a plethora of Adelaide goals and probably set up quite a few the other way. Big turnaround.

- Spacing with the forwards, especially the talls when there are so many, Gunston does it really well. Help your mates with blocks, lead in and out of space, don’t bring your man to the contest. Lewis often not given any space due to having so many guys on him, which is highly in part due to spacing, and the fact he’s the biggest and most dangerous. Adelaide do it well with their talls, all spread and create space.

- Cleanliness when it matters, fumbling. Fumbling happens but it cannot be let into space, another stoppage is a must unless a clear target for a handball is there or an opening.

- Goes with the above but, keeping your feet. This is crucial. You’re out of the game if you go to ground so it’s imperative you don’t.

- Backline brilliant most of the night, patches of brain fades but a decent high scoring game both ways, so it can be forgiven. Sicily, Battle in particular were amazing, Impey, Amon and Scrimshaw had really good moments.

- Midfield the same, thought they were good but the composure at times was a big factor in why people view in another light. Newcombe pretty good despite a tag, Day good second game back but both had quiet patches. Ward pretty good but not a lot of help from Nash and especially Worpel was poor when he came on. Meek was good I thought bar some moments, but he had some good ones too (17 disp 44 HO 5 tackles 5 SI).

- Forwardline were on fire at stages, missed very gettable chances however in big moments. Spacing as mentioned wasn’t where it needed to be, and not enough leading (spacing again). Pressure was good overall but again moments where it was way too easy to transition from D50 for Adelaide.

There are probably other things, but they are some of the big noticeable ones.

 

[SA HAWK]

Connor Macdonald needs to lift. His spot's in danger at the moment.

Not tough enough.

Trade bait imo.

 

[Hrvat Hawks]

4 talls didn't come into play at all in a bad or good way.

I feel like positionally we didn't use it to its full potential with deep over the back kicks and positioning the balls there.

We are a gun midfielder away from grabbing the comp by the throat.

Meek is cooked. Should have had a chop out earlier then this.

Battle, Sic & Ginni were very good.

Lewis should have been subbed before Dear.

We need to find a way to have the Wiz involved more and also a few please explains to the AFL. He is umpired differently.

To wrap it up. We aren't there yet. 1-2 more years are needed before we are properly contending. Not saying this year is over, but we are far from dominant.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Sorry brother but I fear this is a bit of a glaze. Yes Lewis is hugely talented but he's had stuff all of a pre season and barely played at all the last 3 years. To much to ask for anyone Cameron wouldn't be able to do it.

Yeah exactly why you continue to play him. He’s clearly in the best 23. He wasn’t the sole one who was “down” tonight. Hence why it isn’t a clear indication to who goes out. Chol was good in the ruck but poor forward, Dear non existent but not really his fault with the whole of the talls not spreading or creating space as a unit. Lewis was often man handled but still provided a contest.

Sam will either back the 4 again or drop one of Chol or Dear. Those two are the most similar.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

Disappointing to lose a very high intensity game that had such momentum shifts for both teams.

Sicily was brilliant. Gee he was good and yet Tex got to kick two goals late when he did very little else for the night.

Gunston is amazing. Our only tall that earnt his money tonight.

Battle was huge again and is so flexible. A really strong consistent year that has not really got the plaudits externally but he has been a brilliant pick up.

Ginnivan so consistent. Goes when it is his turn and continually reminds of high footy IQ.

Impey is putting together some sort of season. I wish we would play him in the forward line and use another quick in defence.

The Massimo miss late, it was such a heartbreaker. It was well and truly in our grasp if he had kicked that goal. He had a decent game other than the missed shots at goal.

Cmac clearly a teachers pet. Astounding that he hadn’t been dropped at some point throughout the year.

Nice of you to join and then share a view I raised and got belittled on here for the past 2 seasons. Be careful though, his relos are on here and will come after you when you question anything he does.

Worpel’s last few games have earnt him an extended run at Box Hill. We would have been better to continue with the 4 talls as bad as that was. Killed forward momentum repeatedly and 4-5 goals resulted from his horrible decision making. You have to question that he hasn’t truly checked out.

 

[Atch]

Someone was arguing the other week daicos isn't good cause he doesn't do contested marks, then someone said well Nash has barely taken any he's whole career either. Yeah but Nash is 198 that's about 10cms taller than most mids, hmm apart from tackle and get the occasional goal every 3 games what else does he do?

 

[HawHawHawthorn]

Not tough enough.

Trade bait imo.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

What Lewis was 3 years ago is irrelevant now, also 'he's the monster' is a massive massive stretch.

He was okay last week and poor this week, he is at the back of the line.

Also posting the stats like they help your argument is funny.

7 touches is poor, his one goal was a gimme from Ginni that he should have kicked himself. He was not alone tonight but he was dreadful.

Again you’re being extremely tunnel vision.

Lewis was good last week.

Lewis had 14 disp 2 goals (1 GA 6 SI) 6 marks (1 CM) with Dear really good and Gunston really good.

He got man handled all night, he provided a contest and whilst wasn’t good he wasn’t awful. Dear was subbed early and didn’t get near it either but he had some moments, Chol had moments where he looked good in the ruck but was poor forward.

Bar Gunston the rest didn’t work as a group together.

The reason and clear thing is that Chol and Dear are the most similar of talls with how they play. Athletic, defensive pressure, and brilliance at times. It’s going to likely be one of them out, or to back in 4 talls again and hope the spacing fixes itself.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Yeah exactly why you continue to play him. He’s clearly in the best 23. He wasn’t the sole one who was “down” tonight. Hence why it isn’t a clear indication to who goes out. Chol was good in the ruck but poor forward, Dear non existent but not really his fault with the whole of the talls not spreading or creating space as a unit. Lewis was often man handled but still provided a contest.

Sam will either back the 4 again or drop one of Chol or Dear. Those two are the most similar.

Tricky decision to choose who to drop out of Dear, Lewis and Chol (Gunners obviously stays).

Chol he provides a chop out to Meek in the ruck and we really risk big Lloyd blowing himself up soon od we don't give him a hand in the ruck.

Dear is obviously an exciting talent and offers good pressure but as with all young forwards when it's not his night and his timing is off he struggles big time.

Lewis is the biggest of the three and historically the best contested mark and should straighten us up.

Very tough decision, based on tonight I think it's either dear or Lewis gets dropped as we really need Chols versatility.

 

[hawk for 37]

If your ‘premiership clock’ sitting at around midnight means you’re in the zone, in the premiership window, I feel like we’re at about 23:51.

Hawks at 10.45. Not making finals is not “premiership window”.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Not to mention the Rankine touched mark and 50m penalty. Let’s see how you go on the G in finals. Maybe lay off the power stance this year. Pretenders.

And the throw back into play for the Thilthorpe goal. Pretty sure they got about the same from free kicks. Shit take from a shit bloke by the sounds of it.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Tricky decision to choose who to drop out of Dear, Lewis and Chol (Gunners obviously stays).

Chol he provides a chop out to Meek in the ruck and we really risk big Lloyd blowing himself up soon od we don't give him a hand in the ruck.

Dear is obviously an exciting talent and offers good pressure but as with all young forwards when it's not his night and his timing is off he struggles big time.

Lewis is the biggest of the three and historically the best contested mark and should straighten us up.

Very tough decision, based on tonight I think it's either dear or Lewis gets dropped as we really need Chols versatility.

I agree.

I think the obvious way to look at it is.

Structural.

Lewis is a different forward to Chol and Dear and Gunston is different again.

Chol and Dear are most similar, so it would likely be one of those two. Chol is important for ruck relief tho, so do you back in 4 again and work on the spacing.

The big thing was A not trusting the forwards and not kicking long or to their advantage enough, often mucking around with it. B the spacing of the talls wasn’t good, with them getting in each others ways or letting their man double or triple team other forwards. This especially influenced Lewis, most of the contests he was in he had more than 2 hanging off of him.

Whilst that’s a big talking point, you need to assess where MacDonald and Worpel are at, as there is a perspective in that they could be replaced too due to poor and inconsistent form.

Does Butler or Mackenzie come back in?

Interesting week ahead.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Again you’re being extremely tunnel vision.

Lewis was good last week.

Lewis had 14 disp 2 goals (1 GA 6 SI) 6 marks (1 CM) with Dear really good and Gunston really good.

He got man handled all night, he provided a contest and whilst wasn’t good he wasn’t awful. Dear was subbed early and didn’t get near it either but he had some moments, Chol had moments where he looked good in the ruck but was poor forward.

Bar Gunston the rest didn’t work as a group together.

The reason and clear thing is that Chol and Dear are the most similar of talls with how they play. Athletic, defensive pressure, and brilliance at times. It’s going to likely be one of them out, or to back in 4 talls again and hope the spacing fixes itself.

The spacing won’t fix itself, 3 talls in the modern game can be hard to make work.

The 3 with Dear and Chol worked a treat in the back end of last year. I think they have earned the right to the spot at this stage.

 

[Come back Cyril]

Two sliding doors moments are the difference in that game.

Massimo missing a sitter

Rankine mark that was clearly touched and then a 50 paid, gifted goal.

The umpires had zero feel for the game and were horrid all night for both teams. The worst umpired code of sport in the world bar none.

Gallant loss, but so was the Freo loss and the Suns loss.

Teams need to play very well to beat us and frustratingly it seems like we shoot ourselves in the foot more often than teams genuinely beat us.

Port, Brisbane and Collingwood losses this year are the only games we genuinely got beaten, the others we’ve completely soiled the bed at pivotal moments.

We’ll be much better for it next year, top 4 side in 2026, but right now it’s hard to stomach

Thought the other one was Worpel trying to be too cute at the start of the last and turning it over instead of kicking it inside 50 - went straight back the other way for a Crows goal. Real momentum killer.

 

[hawk for 37]

Cannot knock the effort. Probably missing the finals and stiff to do so.
However, we keep fluffing the lines in the big moments.

Finals frauds until they get a big scalp in a big game.

 

[Bedi]

Another big game, another fail.

Bit of a pattern unfortunately, starting off from Geel game last year

 

[seysearles]

Maybe your family can support racist behaviour and good on you for that. Cheer them on all you like. He said something racist and only has to do it once. Owning it or not. Arseholes like that have attacked my family for years. I couldn't care less if he only said it once. It's a window into his mind.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

The spacing won’t fix itself, 3 talls in the modern game can be hard to make work.

The 3 with Dear and Chol worked a treat in the back end of last year. I think they have earned the right to the spot at this stage.

The Lewis, Dear and Gunston combo worked brilliant last week too, so it’s not necessarily that easy.

It was also very obvious last year that Hawthorn lacked a BIG key forward and the athletic talls weren’t consistently reliable.

Again from a structure perspective it’ll be one of Dear or Chol missing due to the fact they’re the most similar.

 

[Hrvat Hawks]

if we are dropping the 4 talls. Lewis has to be the one. Showed nothing tonight.

 

[grumbleguts]

Clearly you have never suffered from racism.

 

[Bedi]

Cmac is a real worry for me, i just keep waiting for it to click and it just hasn't. He really he is just a bobs up a few times a night and unless he takes all his chances he really is not offering much.

Time to bring in Bruest

 

[seysearles]

Clearly you have never suffered from racism.

You literally have no clue. This is EXACTLY why this stuff shouldn't be on these boards.