Prediction Best 23, Round Zero 2026

[Hodginator]

If Morrison is fit, I recon Sam has him straight in the side - and I don’t blame him.

 

[matey]

Don’t mind the side picked by the Quarterly but no Croc ….. which shows where our list is at!

Didn’t have Weds on the wing in my first crack but I’m absolutely loving the idea of him roaming up and down the ground using his size, endurance and strong marking ability to his advantage regularly taking off on runs then pumping it 60 into the forward line. Time to unleash our stallion to the footy world to show the weapon he can be!

I find it amusing watching oppo supporters breaking down how sides will go this year by comparing this player to that player etc. As we know Hawk premierships are built on one main thing ……. a champion team will beat a team of champions.

I look at our list today and I can’t see a weakness that stands out as we have a great mix of quality in the following areas …….. backline, forward line, experience/nice age profile, hard gut runners, skill/good kicks, X factor, size, rucks, depth, toughness, culture and connection between players understanding the game style well under a great coach.

With Worps leaving I understand the talk around our midfield but I’m confident it will go another level with Ward announcing himself, Day playing more games than last season and the rotation of Butts, Frenchie, Croc, Wiz, Moore, Ginni through the middle.

Just keep working your hardest boys and effort equals reward. As Sam said last year we weren’t good enough so I am 100% sure the players and support staff are busting their guts to go that extra step forward required to win our next one . Yes I am a half glass full type . Go Hawks.

 

[Roddy]

We can quibble over the nuances of it, and I’m sure we will continue to do so, but damn these sides are starting to look close to complete. Backline looks formidable, forward line looks dangerous, centreline mercurial. Keep Day fit and squeeze just 5-10% improvement out of the midfield, and we’re looking absolutely SWEET.

Then, if we happen to snag an a-grade mid this year, start engraving the silverware….

 

[TONYC3163]

View attachment 2505632

Don’t mind the side picked by the Quarterly but no Croc ….. which shows where our list is at!

Didn’t have Weds on the wing in my first crack but I’m absolutely loving the idea of him roaming up and down the ground using his size, endurance and strong marking ability to his advantage regularly taking off on runs then pumping it 60 into the forward line. Time to unleash our stallion to the footy world to show the weapon he can be!

I find it amusing watching oppo supporters breaking down how sides will go this year by comparing this player to that player etc. As we know Hawk premierships are built on one main thing ……. a champion team will beat a team of champions.

I look at our list today and I can’t see a weakness that stands out as we have a great mix of quality in the following areas …….. backline, forward line, experience/nice age profile, hard gut runners, skill/good kicks, X factor, size, rucks, depth, toughness, culture and connection between players understanding the game style well under a great coach.

With Worps leaving I understand the talk around our midfield but I’m confident it will go another level with Ward announcing himself, Day playing more games than last season and the rotation of Butts, Frenchie, Croc, Wiz, Moore, Ginni through the middle.

Just keep working your hardest boys and effort equals reward. As Sam said last year we weren’t good enough so I am 100% sure the players and support staff are busting their guts to go that extra step forward required to win our next one . Yes I am a half glass full type . Go Hawks.

Going off last years form Croc should play before Frenchie. Preseason will be interesting.

 

[earthworms]

View attachment 2505632

Don’t mind the side picked by the Quarterly but no Croc ….. which shows where our list is at!

Didn’t have Weds on the wing in my first crack but I’m absolutely loving the idea of him roaming up and down the ground using his size, endurance and strong marking ability to his advantage regularly taking off on runs then pumping it 60 into the forward line. Time to unleash our stallion to the footy world to show the weapon he can be!

I find it amusing watching oppo supporters breaking down how sides will go this year by comparing this player to that player etc. As we know Hawk premierships are built on one main thing ……. a champion team will beat a team of champions.

I look at our list today and I can’t see a weakness that stands out as we have a great mix of quality in the following areas …….. backline, forward line, experience/nice age profile, hard gut runners, skill/good kicks, X factor, size, rucks, depth, toughness, culture and connection between players understanding the game style well under a great coach.

With Worps leaving I understand the talk around our midfield but I’m confident it will go another level with Ward announcing himself, Day playing more games than last season and the rotation of Butts, Frenchie, Croc, Wiz, Moore, Ginni through the middle.

Just keep working your hardest boys and effort equals reward. As Sam said last year we weren’t good enough so I am 100% sure the players and support staff are busting their guts to go that extra step forward required to win our next one . Yes I am a half glass full type . Go Hawks.

I like this side but I still think we need X-Factor in the midfield. By that I mean we have lots of great athletes with good endurance and stamina in this side however the midfield lacks burst/breakaway speed, with someone who can accelerate quickly and break out of congestion. Watson has this attribute however he’s stuck at FF, which is somewhat justified as he’s early on in his career. Day has shown that burst speed in the past but he has been frequently injured which could affect that athletic breakout speed or his reliability in general. Impey has that burst speed but his best position is half back. This isn’t groundbreaking and has been addressed by lots of posters, however as a potential solution I think we should give Watson a lot more midfield time as well as trialling (cycling, not all at once) Impey, Matt Hill (even though he’s far behind in the pecking order) and Dalton in the middle. Even though these players aren’t as developed as our other midfielders (Hill and Dalton not having even played a single AFL game yet) I still believe this is a necessary tradeoff to address our weaknesses in the centre, as all these players have that burst that could help us take another step this year.

 

[Yuley95]

View attachment 2505632

Don’t mind the side picked by the Quarterly but no Croc ….. which shows where our list is at!

Didn’t have Weds on the wing in my first crack but I’m absolutely loving the idea of him roaming up and down the ground using his size, endurance and strong marking ability to his advantage regularly taking off on runs then pumping it 60 into the forward line. Time to unleash our stallion to the footy world to show the weapon he can be!

I find it amusing watching oppo supporters breaking down how sides will go this year by comparing this player to that player etc. As we know Hawk premierships are built on one main thing ……. a champion team will beat a team of champions.

I look at our list today and I can’t see a weakness that stands out as we have a great mix of quality in the following areas …….. backline, forward line, experience/nice age profile, hard gut runners, skill/good kicks, X factor, size, rucks, depth, toughness, culture and connection between players understanding the game style well under a great coach.

With Worps leaving I understand the talk around our midfield but I’m confident it will go another level with Ward announcing himself, Day playing more games than last season and the rotation of Butts, Frenchie, Croc, Wiz, Moore, Ginni through the middle.

Just keep working your hardest boys and effort equals reward. As Sam said last year we weren’t good enough so I am 100% sure the players and support staff are busting their guts to go that extra step forward required to win our next one . Yes I am a half glass full type . Go Hawks.

OK - I'm a little bored and can't help but respond to thing like this with 'but we will always have a few injuries...' So, if anyone is up for it, using google as a random number generator, I've taken out one 'injured' played from back/mid/forward/bench and had to use depth to replace them.

The players that come up injured were: Sicily, Weddle, Watson and MacKenzie (that's hopefully a much worse outcome than we will ever experience this years...)

And with those players out, my team is:

FB: Hardwick, Barass, Scrimshaw
HB: Impey, Battle, Amon
C: Morrison, Day, D'Ambrosio
HF: Ginnivan, Lewis, Moore
FF: Dear, Chol, Gunston
Foll: Meek, Newcombe, Ward
Int: Nash, Mackenzie, Butler, Maginess, Macdonald

Still a reasonable team with players like Reeves, Ramsden, Bailey Mac, Blanke and Hustwaite with some experience that can be brought in as well as Mraz and new recruits that may get a run through the year.

 

[matey]

I like this side but I still think we need X-Factor in the midfield. By that I mean we have lots of great athletes with good endurance and stamina in this side however the midfield lacks burst/breakaway speed, with someone who can accelerate quickly and break out of congestion. Watson has this attribute however he’s stuck at FF, which is somewhat justified as he’s early on in his career. Day has shown that burst speed in the past but he has been frequently injured which could affect that athletic breakout speed or his reliability in general. Impey has that burst speed but his best position is half back. This isn’t groundbreaking and has been addressed by lots of posters, however as a potential solution I think we should give Watson a lot more midfield time as well as trialling (cycling, not all at once) Impey, Matt Hill (even though he’s far behind in the pecking order) and Dalton in the middle. Even though these players aren’t as developed as our other midfielders (Hill and Dalton not having even played a single AFL game yet) I still believe this is a necessary tradeoff to address our weaknesses in the centre, as all these players have that burst that could help us take another step this year.

Ideally that X-factor burst mid would be great to have but is it the be all end all? did we have that X factor/burst speed mid during our three peat? We didn’t have a Judd, Ablett junior type but being the best team overcame all the challenges thrown at us to salute. Mitch, Lewis, Burgs, Hodge, Sewell and others rotating through the middle did the job. Hopefully Nuke/Day/Ward/Nash/Frenchie/Croc/Butts/Wiz/Moore with Weds on a wing can do the same. This talented young group with the number of games played/age profile is no where near its peak ….. still a lot of improvement left. This midfield will hopefully play its role in the team. As Sam has said a number of times he doesn’t want to rely on one or two mids getting it 30+ each week he would prefer 4-6 players getting it 20 times.

 

[Hawkinspired]

I live by ‘consistency always wins’ mantra and Morrison has this written all over him. Sure, he has a visible ceiling on him, but will take some effort to shake him from the AFL side.

 

[parsons nose]

My bellwether for the form of the team is Nash. If Nash is getting a game deep into the season, we haven’t improved enough to win the flag. If however he is being kept out the team by the superior form of one our up and coming midfielders, lookout. They should all be eyeing his spot in the team.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

View attachment 2505632

Don’t mind the side picked by the Quarterly but no Croc ….. which shows where our list is at!

Didn’t have Weds on the wing in my first crack but I’m absolutely loving the idea of him roaming up and down the ground using his size, endurance and strong marking ability to his advantage regularly taking off on runs then pumping it 60 into the forward line. Time to unleash our stallion to the footy world to show the weapon he can be!

I find it amusing watching oppo supporters breaking down how sides will go this year by comparing this player to that player etc. As we know Hawk premierships are built on one main thing ……. a champion team will beat a team of champions.

I look at our list today and I can’t see a weakness that stands out as we have a great mix of quality in the following areas …….. backline, forward line, experience/nice age profile, hard gut runners, skill/good kicks, X factor, size, rucks, depth, toughness, culture and connection between players understanding the game style well under a great coach.

With Worps leaving I understand the talk around our midfield but I’m confident it will go another level with Ward announcing himself, Day playing more games than last season and the rotation of Butts, Frenchie, Croc, Wiz, Moore, Ginni through the middle.

Just keep working your hardest boys and effort equals reward. As Sam said last year we weren’t good enough so I am 100% sure the players and support staff are busting their guts to go that extra step forward required to win our next one . Yes I am a half glass full type . Go Hawks.

Croc plays over Buttler and Mackenzie ever day of the week.

 

[TONYC3163]

My bellwether for the form of the team is Nash. If Nash is getting a game deep into the season, we haven’t improved enough to win the flag. If however he is being kept out the team by the superior form of one our up and coming midfielders, lookout. They should all be eyeing his spot in the team.

Not sure any of the up and coming midfielders plays the same role as Nash - maybe Greeves?

 

[Hawkinspired]

Not sure any of the up and coming midfielders plays the same role as Nash - maybe Greeves?

I agree about Nash, but think it’s more evolutionary that if he is pushed out we perhaps take a more attacking style of play with a different kind of midfielder.

Although it’s quite possible that Finn could elevate himself to perform the Nash role better.

 

[matey]

Just my observation re Nash. Post 2018 and before Sam came in to coach we became a bit soft where teams like the Tigers, Blues etc use to bully us. It pissed me off big time.

Nash is so underrated in the role he plays for the team. He is tough as nails and in a physical game such as the AFL you always need your brutes ….. Nash is our battering ram.

Close to ruckman height, good runner with endurance and plays more like a midfielder that still finds the ball while being sent to the oppositions best big mids like Cripps, Greene, Bont, Callaghan etc and negates them very well. I absolutely love the role that Nash brings to the table. He can even pinch hit in the ruck. No wonder clubs were talking to him before he resigned with us again.

 

[bigmaxi]

Just my observation re Nash. Post 2018 and before Sam came in to coach we became a bit soft where teams like the Tigers, Blues etc use to bully us. It pissed me off big time.

Nash is so underrated in the role he plays for the team. He is tough as nails and in a physical game such as the AFL you always need your brutes ….. Nash is our battering ram.

Close to ruckman height, good runner with endurance and plays more like a midfielder that still finds the ball while being sent to the oppositions best big mids like Cripps, Greene, Bont, Callaghan etc and negates them very well. I absolutely love the role that Nash brings to the table. He can even pinch hit in the ruck. No wonder clubs were talking to him before he resigned with us again.

View attachment 2506016

Agree, love the Nash. If the whole midfield is humming his confidence will skyrocket and go full beast mode. Can’t wait to see him extend himself, thinking the “LOCH NASH MONSTER!”

 

[burger09]

I think it's worth reiterating what a fantastic job Sam and his team have done transforming our list.

From nowhere land to a preliminary final in 4 seasons.

The next step can be the hardest and may take longer than we are hoping. I'm happy we are relevant and worth watching again.

We are close to a Premiership quality best 22. If Ward/ McKenzie as high midfield picks had come on as potential A /B+ graders(they might yet) we would be ready to salute.

Well done to all.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

If Morrison is fit, I recon Sam has him straight in the side - and I don’t blame him.

Yep.
Hes definitely a vanilla player, but we lost all structure when he got injured.

He was always a Mr fix-it too. When teams began to get on top, he'd be parked in defence, when a player was getting a run on, he'd be deployed as a 2-way tag. He was even sent forward a couple of times to provide some structure

 

[Sprint Artisan]

Hardwick Barrass Impey
Scrimshaw Battle Sicily
Weddle Day dÁmbrosio
Ginnivan Lewis Gunston
Moore Chol Watson
Meek Newcombe Ward

Dear CMac Amon Nash
Reeves/BMac/MacKenzie/Morrison

I think Weddle on the wing needs to happen. He is a strong marking target to have up the ground for when the midfield is congested and he adds X factor. If he gets it right, opposition sides are going to put time and effort into stopping him.

I think the last spot on the bench will depend on opposition strengths and weaknesses. It's possible Sam could go for a second specialist ruck, but with Chol in the side he may choose to keep him waiting in the VFL as a back up. BMac is the choice if we need additional speed, and MacKenzie has a chance to take that spot if he is in good form early.

Morrison is an unlucky omission, but he would be the next in line to cover any of the inevitable injuries. He never really puts a foot wrong, but it's hard to find anyone you could mount an argument for replacing.

I feel like the squad has good depth with decent players like Ramsden, Hustwaite, Butler, Blanck and Maginness as spares. All of them could find their way into the side at some point this season.

Fun times ahead...

 

[To the Hawk]

Not sure any of the up and coming midfielders plays the same role as Nash - maybe Greeves?

I think Butler will go past Nash as our best defensive mid. I think Butler is going to be our version of Tom Atkins.

It's a matter of if we like the size of Nash blocking around the ball.

I thought he was ok to below expectations last season.

 

[To the Hawk]

I think he will, so won't be an issue.

But if Mackenzie doesn't lock himself into best 23 this year, you'd have to think he leaves. We wouldn't get much back either given he's out of contract.

It's a big year for him to repay the faith in the club taking him with pick 7 and happy letting Worpel move on.

I don't think our build will be defined by Mackenzie, but it's important he makes it as a part of our midfield and shows a Ward level jump in 2026. The GWS game tells us he's more than capable.

 

[peetoo]

Ideally that X-factor burst mid would be great to have but is it the be all end all? did we have that X factor/burst speed mid during our three peat? We didn’t have a Judd, Ablett junior type but being the best team overcame all the challenges thrown at us to salute. Mitch, Lewis, Burgs, Hodge, Sewell and others rotating through the middle did the job. Hopefully Nuke/Day/Ward/Nash/Frenchie/Croc/Butts/Wiz/Moore with Weds on a wing can do the same. This talented young group with the number of games played/age profile is no where near its peak ….. still a lot of improvement left. This midfield will hopefully play its role in the team. As Sam has said a number of times he doesn’t want to rely on one or two mids getting it 30+ each week he would prefer 4-6 players getting it 20 times.

The most successful hawks teams have 3 outstanding outside runners or wingmen. Even in the seventies and eighties

 

[Manila_Hawk]

I think Butler will go past Nash as our best defensive mid. I think Butler is going to be our version of Tom Atkins.

It's a matter of if we like the size of Nash blocking around the ball.

I thought he was ok to below expectations last season.

Nash was clearly our best player in the preliminary final (in my opinion).

Plenty to work with there.

 

[kazzooka]

My bellwether for the form of the team is Nash. If Nash is getting a game deep into the season, we haven’t improved enough to win the flag. If however he is being kept out the team by the superior form of one our up and coming midfielders, lookout. They should all be eyeing his spot in the team.

I'm somewhat inclined to agree. I love Nash and the improvement he's shown. And currently he is vital to the team for his role. Took bontempelli out of the elimination final in 2024 and had a great game in the prelim (although I suspect Geelong were prepared to let him get more ball to stop ward and newcombe)

It's hard to see who kicks him out though. Hustwaite and Greeves are the tall mid times that can win it and dish off a handball like Nash but are well well below Nash in defensive ability and running capacity. Butler might be the one that can Run and defend like Nash and has better skills and ball winning but doesn't have that imposing frame around stoppages.

Threepeat era we would put Roughhead in the middle to make up for size. So perhaps the alternative is Weddle in the middle occasionally for the size, and Day, Newcombe, Ward, Butler, Mackenzie are the more permanent inside mids. Those 5 are all pretty solid frame players so we won't be caught out too much if we have Weddle in that option.

 

[grumbleguts]

Add in his kicking in general play and chase down tackling he is elite in these areas for a 200cm when giving Meek/Reeves a breather.

The other day I mentioned Chol to a Tigers friend given the connection and he said he was a bit lazy. Maybe I didn’t watch him enough at the Tigers but my Tigers buddy definitely hasn’t been watching him in the brown & gold! He’s got no idea. Love what Chol brings to the side

Did anyone have to study Chaim Potok's "The Chosen" in Highschool? I did. Imagine my surprise when I discovered the book contained a typo, and a major one, on the cover no less. Managed to dig up the original draft:

 

[To the Hawk]

Nash was clearly our best player in the preliminary final (in my opinion).

Plenty to work with there.

Yeah he was good v cats, agree.

But since finishing 3rd in our B&F in 2023, and deservingly earning a good contract extension, he has:

2024 - finished 13th from 25 games
2025 - finished 15th from 22 games

He needs to lift big time in 2026. If not, we're in trouble if he's still a best 2023 lock.

I'm sure he's setting himself for a big 2026 without Worpel and knowing the youngsters are coming for a spot in the middle.

 

[Coathanger]

Yeah he was good v cats, agree.

But since finishing 3rd in our B&F in 2023, and deservingly earning a good contract extension, he has:

2024 - finished 13th from 25 games
2025 - finished 15th from 22 games

He needs to lift big time in 2026. If not, we're in trouble if he's still a best 2023 lock.

I'm sure he's setting himself for a big 2026 without Worpel and knowing the youngsters are coming for a spot in the middle.

That’s dribble mate.
You don’t think the team’s improvement in the last two seasons means other players have lifted,not
that Nash has gone backwards?