Autopsy Round 2, 2026: Hawks pluck Swans

[SSSSSS]

It's not that common to see the script completely flipped like that.

Normally if you're beaten in clearances and physciality the best you can do is even it up or try and win through rebound.

There were some very significant wins for this game.

I think I heard we were something like +30 contested possessions in the second half. Which is an absolutely bonkers stat.

Maybe Sam gave them an absolute serve at half time. We looked a different team out their physically, led by Newcombe from the third quarter.

 

[CHUBBSS]

There were moments in the second quarter where the Swans were getting the better of us physically in tight. We really flipped that in the second half. Weddle's tackle and Ward on the boundary were team lifting moments in that regard I thought

Newcombes goal and punching the ground turned the game, we looked pretty strong from that point on

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Newcombes goal and punching the ground turned the game, we looked pretty strong from that point on

Maybe all the players should punch the ground when they kick a goal

 

[HawthornHawk]

Newcombes goal and punching the ground turned the game, we looked pretty strong from that point on

That was a real 'f you' goal

 

[Judd2Sewell]

The cats have a great group of tall defenders. Henry, SDK, O’Sullivan, Guthrie, Stewart, and Blicavs rolling back are a pretty comparable group to ours, generally they don’t let any key forwards get on a role before changing things up to shut them down - exactly like we did with Curnow.

Lewis could still cause them problems with his movement, but it won’t give Gunston an easy match up.

Wonder how they will set up against us initially. They will likely play O'Connor, Mullins and Atkins as taggers.

Atkins - Newcombe
Mullin / O'Connor - Moore / Watson
Henry - Gunston
O'Sullivan - Chol
SDK - Lewis, as he pushes right up the ground

Blicavs to take either Lewis and Chol if they are getting the better of their matchups.

Stewart and Humphries will be looking to play off Macdonald and Ginnivan.

We will really need big games out of Ward, Nash and Mackenzie if Atkins beats Newcombe again.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

They'll shut down Newcombe with everything they've got. Very predictable so I'm interested in what our Plan B is

 

[TylerDurden]

Wonder how they will set up against us initially. They will likely play O'Connor, Mullins and Atkins as taggers.

Atkins - Newcombe
Mullin / O'Connor - Moore / Watson
Henry - Gunston
O'Sullivan - Chol
SDK - Lewis, as he pushes right up the ground

Blicavs to take either Lewis and Chol if they are getting the better of their matchups.

Stewart and Humphries will be looking to play off Macdonald and Ginnivan.

We will really need big games out of Ward, Nash and Mackenzie if Atkins beats Newcombe again.

Atkins to Jai is a lock.

Already shitting bricks re this game. And Dangerfield.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Atkins to Jai is a lock.

Already shitting bricks re this game. And Dangerfield.

Dreading the inevitable big games from Danger, Mannagh and Dempsey.

Smith and Holmes vs Ward (revenge game please), Nash and Mackenzie. Bruhn looks like a decent player this season, based off limited exposure though.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Maybe all the players should punch the ground when they kick a goal

 

[Sprint Artisan]

Newcombes goal and punching the ground turned the game, we looked pretty strong from that point on

Didn't work so well for Merrett the week before...

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

I was really critical of lewis in the first half watching him live.

Watching the replay, I realise if Curnow had played that way they would have praised him for trying to outwork and blow up Barrass on the lead.

His work rate down the wings was unbelievable and helped pull apart their defence and make space.

I can see him absolutely ruining Geelong's second defender, or if Stewart is on him then Gunston should have a field day.

SDK or O Sullivan will play on him. They want Stewart playing floating defender so he can do he's thing. More than likely somebody like Dylan Moore or Croc. Wouldn't be shocked they run the 2 tags again because it worked very well last time. The onus is on Weddle to blow MOC up so he can take advantage later in the game.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

The cats have a great group of tall defenders. Henry, SDK, O’Sullivan, Guthrie, Stewart, and Blicavs rolling back are a pretty comparable group to ours, generally they don’t let any key forwards get on a role before changing things up to shut them down - exactly like we did with Curnow.

Lewis could still cause them problems with his movement, but it won’t give Gunston an easy match up.

Henry will take Gunston. He usually takes the biggest threat.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Maybe all the players should punch the ground when they kick a goal

Personally I’d only recommend that for players with a similar body density to concrete (like Newk).

I heard the MCG had to do a concussion test after The Prince of Poowong slammed his fists into it

 

[tommyk72]

Personally I’d only recommend that for players with a similar body density to concrete (like Newk).

I heard the MCG had to do a concussion test after The Prince of Poowong slammed his fists into it

I’m surprised Newcombe wasn’t cited by the MRP. High levels of potential to cause harm by starting an earthquake.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I’m surprised Newcombe wasn’t cited by the MRP. High levels of potential to cause harm by starting an earthquake.

I heard it started a small tsunami of the coast of Japan!

 

[matey]

That Newk shotei uchi after that goal …… would have impressed many Sensei’s from Okinawa!

 

[ppphawk]

It felt like a couple of years ago we were getting a lot of goals from high free kicks.
I’ve really loved the evolution to seeing us still hit the scoreboard really hard without our players being whacked in the head.

 

[DearJai]

Butler is another who has been doing a good job, but he would need to get his numbers up a bit to be sure of holding his place once Day is available...

Butler wins one on ones that few would already, lays our strongest tackles, and is able to stand up during contact and put the ball to our advantage. He also kicks goals.

It won't be him that goes out, as long as he's improving like he is.

His athleticism and potential to be a mid is why we drafted him. Big wraps from our co-captain and others no less.

Our drafting strategy going back to the Ward/Butler draft has been all about getting our high end running midfield going, with Mackenzie, and now Nairn a part of it too. It's not going to be broken up to squeeze in Day. It will be an injury, ruck, defender or forward that goes out for Day to come in on a flank (forward or back) at a guess.

I don't think they'll put Day straight into the midfield to begin with. I have no idea what our coaches are thinking, but that seems the safest bet to get a string of games into him.

 

[matey]

Can’t remember the player I think it was Moore being interviewed talking about the speed of the game and said along the lines that the boys ran hard knew that fatigue would kick in but were confident that they would run out the game better.

The boys are confident in how hard they worked over summer/during the week and in their own general fitness. Weds on a number of occasions you would see him on the last line of defense then next minute providing a link delivering the ball into the forwards, Ginni/Moore/Lewis etc up the ground helping out …… we are a very hard running outfit

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I don't know how we're such a hard running side overall.

McKenzie and Butler play about 65% match time, and Meek Reeves are 50%ish each. The others are really doing a lot of hard running to compensate for these 4 dudes needing so much time on the pine

 

[Sprint Artisan]

Butler wins one on ones that few would already, lays our strongest tackles, and is able to stand up during contact and put the ball to our advantage. He also kicks goals.

It won't be him that goes out, as long as he's improving like he is.

His athleticism and potential to be a mid is why we drafted him. Big wraps from our co-captain and others no less.

Our drafting strategy going back to the Ward/Butler draft has been all about getting our high end running midfield going, with Mackenzie, and now Nairn a part of it too. It's not going to be broken up to squeeze in Day. It will be an injury, ruck, defender or forward that goes out for Day to come in on a flank (forward or back) at a guess.

I don't think they'll put Day straight into the midfield to begin with. I have no idea what our coaches are thinking, but that seems the safest bet to get a string of games into him.

So not D'Ambrosio because he has a good kick, and not Butler because he has strong tackles and kicks goals.

Which other midfielder would make way for Day? MacKenzie? Ward? MacDonald? Nash?

Maybe Day could play in the backline. Would you rather drop Scrimshaw? Amon? Impey?

He could play up forward, so do you drop Lewis? Perhaps Chol?

It's gotta be someone, unless you just leave him out of the side.

Who makes way for Day..?

 

[matey]

I don't know how we're such a hard running side overall.

McKenzie and Butler play about 65% match time, and Meek Reeves are 50%ish each. The others are really doing a lot of hard running to compensate for these 4 dudes needing so much time on the pine

Butler is always up the front in the running drills over summer he has excellent endurance

 

[fairdinks]

So not D'Ambrosio because he has a good kick, and not Butler because he has strong tackles and kicks goals.

Which other midfielder would make way for Day? MacKenzie? Ward? MacDonald? Nash?

Maybe Day could play in the backline. Would you rather drop Scrimshaw? Amon? Impey?

He could play up forward, so do you drop Lewis? Perhaps Chol?

It's gotta be someone, unless you just leave him out of the side.

Who makes way for Day..?

My view is that D'Ambrosio is the player currently at risk. He has been just OK so far but not reached the levels of 2024 for some time.

I also think there will be games where we only go with one ruck, so that provides opportunities.

AND, we will have injures. Just hope not to our stars. Things change. Form falls away, injuries occur, we change line ups based on oppo, etc.

 

[DearJai]

So much so that the AA selectors would put them on the wing to fit them in! FFS..

Tis' a sad joke of a policy, every team has a group of A-grade midfielders. There are a handful of elite pure wings.

I don't know how we're such a hard running side overall.

McKenzie and Butler play about 65% match time, and Meek Reeves are 50%ish each. The others are really doing a lot of hard running to compensate for these 4 dudes needing so much time on the pine

Butler is a monster aerobic athlete, not sure what the deal is there if he’s 65 percent only.

Has to be part of his injury recovery with the leg.

But that is a lot of rotations being eaten up as you point out.

 

[CD Xbow]

So not D'Ambrosio because he has a good kick, and not Butler because he has strong tackles and kicks goals.

Which other midfielder would make way for Day? MacKenzie? Ward? MacDonald? Nash?

Maybe Day could play in the backline. Would you rather drop Scrimshaw? Amon? Impey?

He could play up forward, so do you drop Lewis? Perhaps Chol?

It's gotta be someone, unless you just leave him out of the side.

Who makes way for Day..?

Don't worry about it, it's a long season being run at breakneck speed, misfortune will certainly provide the answer