Pass mark for Hawthorn in 2026

[NetworkNerd]

The stats do not back up the sentiment. Hawthorn has had a negative free kick ratio in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (neutral in 2024) Last year was the outlier

Historically West Coast are one of the most looked after clubs

 

[amazingjoshy]

The stats do not back up the sentiment. Hawthorn has had a negative free kick ratio in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (neutral in 2024) Last year was the outlier

Historically West Coast are one of the most looked after clubs

View attachment 2556255

This has nothing to do with this thread

 

[LeBronco]

Hawthorn were pretty good in 2024/2025 but you could feel as though they were not good enough to be the real deal similar to Carlton in 2023/2024 which is fair enough given their meteoric rise up the ladder, however they look to have improved in 2026 despite not improving their list over the last trade/free agency period and even though the list still has flaws it may still be good enough to be the real deal this year. Look at Collingwood in 2023 they arguably had a worse list on paper than the current Hawthorn side especially the forward line and look how that turned out, it showed how important it is to have a great coach and Mitchell is cut from the same cloth as McRae a ruthless competitor with a great tactical mind who knows what it takes to win premierships. While a poor tradesman blames his tools a poor coach blames his players and you don't see McRae or Mitchell blaming their players when the team isn't good enough to win nor do you hear the media making excuses for them, there is no reason why Hawthorn can't be the real deal in 2026 with the organic growth across the squad plus the ruthless winning mentality they are definitely a premiership contender in my opinion what are your thoughts?

 

[Obeanie1]

Shoe in for the flag in 2026.


If they play Essendon in the grand final.

 

[Back Pocket Rocket]

Not unless Will Day comes back firing.

 

[Sprint Artisan]

-5 last week but more than made up for it last night with a strong +11

+14 after 3 rounds, we're well on target

Just rewards for a well drilled and highly disciplined team...

 

[MadMaxx]

What i think...

We don't play the same way as most of the best sides.

We have an A+ Defence, an A- Forward Line and a C+ midfield.

So (Against the better sides, especially the ones with top midfields), we wont win the bulk of centre square bounces, but we rely on the transition game from Back to fwd to score. We rarely get the centre square advantage and pump it in, like say the Suns or the Dogs can do. We generally try to halve the 6-6-6 bounce, then work it out from there

Our midfield needs to cover the lack of A grade talent, and we do that by replying on a stop from our excellent intercepting backs, running in waves through transition, and getting the ball to advantage to our forwards making good decisions in spacing. Our "mid" mids, just need to make sure they don't turn the ball over (Which we got so badly wrong versus the Giants)

Sam Mitchell I think has come up with a game plan to suit the makeup of the team. Whether it can work for 25 weeks, remains to be seen. I want to see us play Brisbane, Gold Coast and Footscray (The best midfields) before I am happy

 

[BigVic]

They will smash Sydney in the Grand Final as in 2014

 

[Handsuper47]

They've been building for the last few years with a prelim last year and a semi the year before it, so depending on how their next games go (Cats, Bulldogs, Port, Suns) if they get 3-1 out of that at least I'd say yeah.

 

[Bushdid911]

Losing to this GWS team really doesn't look good in hindsight. Geelong and Dogs next two should be interesting.

 

[demondavey]

Not unless Will Day comes back firing.

Don’t think you need him. He will be underdone this year.

 

[PCORF]

Real deal. I think they are good chance to make the Grand Final this year.

I've said it time and time again, a well run football club that thrives on adversity.

 

[Wolfgang West]

They will smash Sydney in the Grand Final as in 2014

Sydney will not make the GF to be in a position to be smashed. Hawthorn a very rough chance of even being there.

 

[SA HAWK]

Losing to this GWS team really doesn't look good in hindsight. Geelong and Dogs next two should be interesting.

Our effort was really poor in Round 0 was really poor much bette4 th3 last 2 weeks.

When we play teams like Geelong & Bulldogs next 2 games we will get a better idea of where we are at.

 

[SA HAWK]

They've been building for the last few years with a prelim last year and a semi the year before it, so depending on how their next games go (Cats, Bulldogs, Port, Suns) if they get 3-1 out of that at least I'd say yeah.

We did make a prelim from 8th which would qualify you for wild card round this year.

 

[Spook]

Hawthorn is screwed if they have to rely on 1 player. I say bring in Greaves, Hawthorn needs more exuberance!

I said the same thing until I watched him play yesterday, gets the ball, uses it well, but like treacle on the spread. If we can teach him how to run faster, then yes.

 

[Sprint Artisan]

I said the same thing until I watched him play yesterday, gets the ball, uses it well, but like treacle on the spread. If we can teach him how to run faster, then yes.

 

[Wraptor]

Hawthorn were pretty good in 2024/2025 but you could feel as though they were not good enough to be the real deal similar to Carlton in 2023/2024 which is fair enough given their meteoric rise up the ladder, however they look to have improved in 2026 despite not improving their list over the last trade/free agency period and even though the list still has flaws it may still be good enough to be the real deal this year. Look at Collingwood in 2023 they arguably had a worse list on paper than the current Hawthorn side especially the forward line and look how that turned out, it showed how important it is to have a great coach and Mitchell is cut from the same cloth as McRae a ruthless competitor with a great tactical mind who knows what it takes to win premierships. While a poor tradesman blames his tools a poor coach blames his players and you don't see McRae or Mitchell blaming their players when the team isn't good enough to win nor do you hear the media making excuses for them, there is no reason why Hawthorn can't be the real deal in 2026 with the organic growth across the squad plus the ruthless winning mentality they are definitely a premiership contender in my opinion what are your thoughts?

I don't understand why Sam Mitchell is so highly rated.
His 4 seasons at the helm have netted ladder finishes of 13th, 16th, 7th and 8th for a 3-2 record in finals.

Compare this to Ken Hinkley at the same stage of his career, his first 4 seasons at Port netted ladder finishes of 7th, 5th, 9th and 10th for a 3-2 record in finals.
Yet most people rate Hinkley a dud and Mitchell a mastermind, go figure.

 

[Sprint Artisan]

I don't understand why Sam Mitchell is so highly rated.
His 4 seasons at the helm have netted ladder finishes of 13th, 16th, 7th and 8th for a 3-2 record in finals.

Compare this to Ken Hinkley at the same stage of his career, his first 4 seasons at Port netted ladder finishes of 7th, 5th, 9th and 10th for a 3-2 record in finals.
Yet most people rate Hinkley a dud and Mitchell a mastermind, go figure.

Do you not see the difference between starting with a team than finishes 7th as opposed to a team that finishes 16th? When Mitchell first took over as coach people were saying the Hawks' list was so bad they would be at the bottom of the ladder for ten years and Mitchell would never coach them to the finals.

7 - 5 - 9 - 10 is a down trend. 16 - 13 - 7 - 8 is an uptrend. If you factor in where they placed after the finals series, Hawks were 16 - 13 - 6 - 4, which means they have improved every year he has been at the helm...

 

[justlookingaround]

They are a top 4 team, if you're a top 4 side then your pass mark is a flag.

 

[timokane]

Tip hawks in there in 7th not their year this one.
Go again in 2027.
I just dont rate sam mitchell tho.
Not much like hes ok but not the cream.

 

[Wraptor]

Do you not see the difference between starting with a team than finishes 7th as opposed to a team that finishes 16th? When Mitchell first took over as coach people were saying the Hawks' list was so bad they would be at the bottom of the ladder for ten years and Mitchell would never coach them to the finals.

7 - 5 - 9 - 10 is a down trend. 16 - 13 - 7 - 8 is an uptrend. If you factor in where they placed after the finals series, Hawks were 16 - 13 - 6 - 4, which means they have improved every year he has been at the helm...

Port were a rabble when Hinkley arrived.
Their predicament at the time was arguably worse than Hawthorn's when Mitchell took over as coach, given Port had tarps on their seats back then due to bad finances.

Jury remains out on Mitchell at this stage.
If he takes Hawthorn to the top 4 this year he deserves credit, especially given their midfield is C+ grade at best.

 

[Xtreme]

They are a top 4 team, if you're a top 4 side then your pass mark is a flag. 5 year dynasty with a four-peat!!!!

 

[Crankyhawk]

I don't understand why Sam Mitchell is so highly rated.
His 4 seasons at the helm have netted ladder finishes of 13th, 16th, 7th and 8th for a 3-2 record in finals.

Compare this to Ken Hinkley at the same stage of his career, his first 4 seasons at Port netted ladder finishes of 7th, 5th, 9th and 10th for a 3-2 record in finals.
Yet most people rate Hinkley a dud and Mitchell a mastermind, go figure.

If Mitchell goes another 8 years without making a GF he will also be considered a dud

 

[Wraptor]

If Mitchell goes another 8 years without making a GF he will also be considered a dud

Like I said, jury is out, although you'd hope Mitchell can take Hawthorn to the top 4 before his 8th season in charge.
After all, it took Hinkley until his 8th season to take Port to the top 4.