Autopsy AFL 2026 Round 2 - Hawks v Swans Thurs March 19th 7:30pm AEDT (MCG)

[sthmelb_dimmies]

Doesn't matter you'll just have some rando no one has ever heard of make their debut and Ronke us.

He had the cheat codes that day did young Ben. Alas never again

 

[ceebsaf]

no gulden. no heeney. If the hawks don’t win it will be embarrassing for them.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

no gulden. no heeney. If the hawks don’t win it will be embarrassing for them.

No Day either. So not as bad as being made out to be. Sydney are still a brilliant side and hard to beat.

You can say it the other way, IF they were to get beaten badly the excuse of missing their two best players wouldn’t be enough. As if they’re going to be a top 4 team, they need depth.

Not to say that’ll definitely happen.

Sydney still have a pretty good midfield setup even without those two.

Warner, Mills, McInerney, Rowbottom and say they bring in Adams.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

This will be a real test of whether Sydney are back after last year's early injury run stopped their season before being one of the form teams late.
Hawks have to be favourites, moreso if Gulden and Heeney are out. If the Swans can stay near them most of the game, that might be enoguh to point that Sydney have genuine top four aspirations. Losing away to a very good team isn't the end of the world at this point of the year, even the top teams will lose a few games.
If they get blown off the park, that might be a different story and a rethink may be required by Cox and co.

This could be an early taste of a week 2 or 3 finals match-up (counting fake wildcards as finals week 0). But with so long to go before then, not really a form guide for finals.

 

[Cam Payne]

If not for injuries I'd have picked the Swans. Hawks by 10.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Close game this well should be but have the Hawks by 14 points at the MCG should be a top game this one

Why Tim, dammit, you’re the kiss of death. Assuming this is your final prediction

 

[Bloody]

Doesn't matter you'll just have some rando no one has ever heard of make their debut and Ronke us.

Who? Never heard of her..

 

[MadMaxx]

Have they called Heeney out for sure yet?

 

[RUNVS]

Have they called Heeney out for sure yet?

Not for sure yet. He is a test.

 

[Wosh]

Teams are up

 

[rdhopkins2]

Swans a class above the Hawks.
Sydney by 20pts.

 

[Xtreme]

no gulden. no heeney. If the hawks don’t win it will be embarrassing for them.

Sydney will win, Hawthorn haven't got the hunger to succeed. Too busy climbing on scissor lifts to give a damn about round 2 matches!

 

[Interdimensional Bigfoot]

Sydney by 57

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Hawthorn by 46 points.

Someone is smiling down on Hawthorn this year. First they got it play a VFL squad on opening round and now have Heeney and Guilden out.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Hawthorn by 46 points.

Someone is smiling down on Hawthorn this year. First they got it play a VFL squad on opening round and now have Heeney and Guilden out.

 

[Mr Meow]

No Day either. So not as bad as being made out to be. Sydney are still a brilliant side and hard to beat.

You can say it the other way, IF they were to get beaten badly the excuse of missing their two best players wouldn’t be enough. As if they’re going to be a top 4 team, they need depth.

Not to say that’ll definitely happen.

Sydney still have a pretty good midfield setup even without those two.

Warner, Mills, McInerney, Rowbottom and say they bring in Adams.

Sydney are more reliant on their absolute top-end players though. Good sides can cope without a quality midfielder, but missing 2 of the top 10 or so midfielders in the comp? That's a new level. It would be similar to the Bulldogs missing Bontempelli and Richards, Geelong missing Holmes and Smith, Adelaide missing Dawson and Rankine, Collingwood missing Daicos and Pendlebury etc. Or if Newcombe joined Day on the sidelines.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Sydney are more reliant on their absolute top-end players though. Good sides can cope without a quality midfielder, but missing 2 of the top 10 or so midfielders in the comp? That's a new level. It would be similar to the Bulldogs missing Bontempelli and Richards, Geelong missing Holmes and Smith, Adelaide missing Dawson and Rankine, Collingwood missing Daicos and Pendlebury etc. Or if Newcombe joined Day on the sidelines.

That’s fair. I think Sydney can still get away with it due to how strong their top end players are. Just depends how strong their depth is to come in and cover the secondary positions.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Swans outs are important. Tough game to pick.
Don't rate the Hawks as a contender, failing to win this would all but confirm it.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Sydney are more reliant on their absolute top-end players though. Good sides can cope without a quality midfielder, but missing 2 of the top 10 or so midfielders in the comp? That's a new level. It would be similar to the Bulldogs missing Bontempelli and Richards, Geelong missing Holmes and Smith, Adelaide missing Dawson and Rankine, Collingwood missing Daicos and Pendlebury etc. Or if Newcombe joined Day on the sidelines.

There's no excuses if we lose, home deck where we play our best footy against a team without 2 of their stars. Got a bit of confidence from last week (yes the opposition wasn't great) but we played the way we wanted to play. Do that again we will trouble them regardless of the step up in ability of who we are playing.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

That’s fair. I think Sydney can still get away with it due to how strong their top end players are. Just depends how strong their depth is to come in and cover the secondary positions.

Curnow has a poor record against us. Battle usually has he's measure as well. Amartey will be the challenge I think. He's too quick for Barrass so it might be a job for Scrimshaw and Barrass take Logan McDonald.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Swans outs are important. Tough game to pick.
Don't rate the Hawks as a contender, failing to win this would all but confirm it.

Don't think we are either until I see evidence we have added to our midfield depth during the year and they can be relied upon. McKenzie and Ward in particular. Solid games last week need to be a weekly thing.

 

[voorhees]

Curnow has a poor record against us. Battle usually has he's measure as well. Amartey will be the challenge I think. He's too quick for Barrass so it might be a job for Scrimshaw and Barrass take Logan McDonald.

Amartey can also go missing very easily.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Amartey can also go missing very easily.

He plays alright against us kicked a bag last year and he's kicked a few a couple of other times as well

 

[Smackdos]

You'd think Hawks should account for the swans pretty comfortably.
5 day turn around and missing 2 genuine A+ graders that dictate so much of the swans ball movement and entries inside 50.
This will be a solid test for the Hawks maturity and gameplan to put a good side away on there home deck which I expect they'll pass with flying colours and win by 4 goals.

 

[timokane]

Top game this changing my tip to the Swans here might be too good for the hawks be it at the MCG.
Swans need to prove they can do it at the MCG.
Line in the sand.
Swans by 17 points