Autopsy AFL 2026 Round 9 - Freo v Hawks Thurs May 7th 8:10pm AEST/6:10pm (OS)

[lordbob]

Teams shouldn't have to do that over 4 weeks though, AFL can plan better. Hawk's schedule is fine since the other team is in the same boat. The first 5 dayer is really due to Easter Monday game which is a request and Dogs coming off a 6 day break anyway. You also had an extra bye the week before the Easter Monday game.

What round, I can only see Geelong actually had a 6, 6, 11, 6, 6 from round 4 to 8 in 2025. Look at their opponents too. At the same time, their opposition went 6, 5, 8, 8, 6 so only 1 game where the opposition had a bigger rest. Geelong always get looked after.

 

[cactuscall]

Freo fans are not doing handstands at all, we are just proud at seeing them come back from 30 points behind and grinding out the win. Stop being so salty.

Speak for yourself! I did 2 handstands and at least 6 cartwheels after the final siren.

 

[The Tip Jar]

Freo by 18-22 from the model. Optus at night is hard to win and Hawthorn's road form hasn't been great. Hawks aren't without a chance but I'd expect Freo's midfield to take control in the second half.

Model tips and margin predictions at footytipjar.com.

 

[TheFourPillars]

FMD are we complaining of 6 day breaks in here as Vic bias lol. Fricken massive chips on shoulders it's a preview thread guys get back to the game which should be a cracker between two great teams this year. Hoping for a win with no injuries

 

[Piggy Smalls]

To give freo the easiest way to move from playing a sunday to a thursday game over a 4 week period.

What is better? 3 x 6 or 5, 7, 7, 5 (thats the hawks last month).

Edit: last year geelong had 6, 6, 8, 6, 5 which is also worse than 3x6 imo.

I'm splitting hairs here, but will point out that Geelong and Hawks have both had a bye.

 

[BarbieITFC]

I hate to side against fellow Freo fans on this one, but we need to put on our big boy pants and stop all this noise about 3 x 6-day breaks. It's not a Vic conspiracy, rather it's because for the first time since prime time footy has expanded to include Thursdays that we're actually a team that warrants a prime time fixture. We've got the 3x6 day breaks because for the third week running we've been scheduled into a prime time slot. We've spent enough time complaining about the number of times Blues and Bombers get these slots - we can't have it both ways.

Also - when the fixture was released there was plenty of discussion on the Freo board about how it was the kindest fixture we've had in years. No Tassie trip, no SCG trip, no stupidly early in the day Melbourne bounce downs, two big stretches where we stay in WA, helped by North selling their home game to WA. Literally the only issues we had were playing away to Geelong in Rd 1 when they'd already played in Opening Round and then this stretch of 3x6 day breaks.

If we're legit then we take this in our stride and fight out what should be one of the games of the year.

Now - if we really want to complain about something, then it should be scheduling a 6:10 start on a Thursday night in Perth. It sucks on so many levels and means we're going to see a half empty stadium when the game starts. Both my wife and I are having to finish work a couple of hours early to get there - and we at least live in Perth. Our poor fans from regional WA will likely have to take a day off to get there - maybe even tomorrow as well. And then we'll get the typical sh*t on here from other fans about a half empty stadium in Q1 and how crap our support is.

 

[Randomizor]

I hate to side against fellow Freo fans on this one, but we need to put on our big boy pants and stop all this noise about 3 x 6-day breaks. It's not a Vic conspiracy, rather it's because for the first time since prime time footy has expanded to include Thursdays that we're actually a team that warrants a prime time fixture. We've got the 3x6 day breaks because for the third week running we've been scheduled into a prime time slot. We've spent enough time complaining about the number of times Blues and Bombers get these slots - we can't have it both ways.

Also - when the fixture was released there was plenty of discussion on the Freo board about how it was the kindest fixture we've had in years. No Tassie trip, no SCG trip, no stupidly early in the day Melbourne bounce downs, two big stretches where we stay in WA, helped by North selling their home game to WA. Literally the only issues we had were playing away to Geelong in Rd 1 when they'd already played in Opening Round and then this stretch of 3x6 day breaks.

If we're legit then we take this in our stride and fight out what should be one of the games of the year.

Now - if we really want to complain about something, then it should be scheduling a 6:10 start on a Thursday night in Perth. It sucks on so many levels and means we're going to see a half empty stadium when the game starts. Both my wife and I are having to finish work a couple of hours early to get there - and we at least live in Perth. Our poor fans from regional WA will likely have to take a day off to get there - maybe even tomorrow as well. And then we'll get the typical sh*t on here from other fans about a half empty stadium in Q1 and how crap our support is.

I find it kind of hard to believe that guys in their mid-20s need more than 6 full days to recover from 2 hours of running and jumping.

It’s also a non-issue for mine.

 

[HairyO]

Big believer in both these sides, but reckon Hawthorn will spring a minor upset and win by about 25 points

If our goal kicking has improved then maybe, but its been hot garbage all year so we have zero chance.

 

[rdhopkins2]

 

[rdhopkins2]

Huge game this one. Freo are up and about and will be hard to beat over in Perth!

 

[Wosh]

Teams are up

 

[LongSerong]

Should be a cracker (i hope)

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Barrass, Battle, and Sicily looks as good a match up for Treacy, Amiss, and Voss as you'd find anywhere.
Hard to see any weaknesses with Hawthorn. Freo have only gotten out of third gear for short bursts so far this year. It will take a four quarter effort to win.

Freo by 1 point and all of our hearts to get another robust workout.

 

[lordbob]

I'm splitting hairs here, but will point out that Geelong and Hawks have both had a bye.

Yeah hawks really needed that round 3 bye.

 

[FreoGirl]

They have played at home 2 of the last 3 games, you can't use travel as an excuse for a home game coming off that.
Hawks traveled to tasmania and had a 5 day break going up agaisnt collingwood. I wouldn't consider the travel to be a factor at all.

Ohh because Tasmania is as far away from Melbourne as Victoria is from Perth. There’s also no time change.

 

[FreoGirl]

Freo by 18-22 from the model. Optus at night is hard to win and Hawthorn's road form hasn't been great. Hawks aren't without a chance but I'd expect Freo's midfield to take control in the second half.

Model tips and margin predictions at footytipjar.com.

Dew has been predicted - Optus is soooo slippery at night

 

[PerthBoy86]

Both sides can string together goals in a hurry, but both sides can have lapses and get scored against quickly.

Both defences look solid, but Hawks a bit more vulnerable on transition. As usual, game will be won in the middle.

I think Hawks by about 10. If they're real premiership contenders they should win. Same for Freo.

 

[GoPies1]

Big test for freo, no silly mistakes to keep hawks in the game.
They should win comfortably at home.
see if they learnt anything from team strategy against the hawks since the Geelong game.
Very inconsistent results by the hawks tells me teams are working them out.

 

[masai tu]

Barrass, Battle, and Sicily looks as good a match up for Treacy, Amiss, and Voss as you'd find anywhere.
Hard to see any weaknesses with Hawthorn. Freo have only gotten out of third gear for short bursts so far this year. It will take a four quarter effort to win.

Freo by 1 point and all of our hearts to get another robust workout.

RPH is on standby, extra resources allocated.

 

[Elixuh]

Freo will walk this one in. Will annihilate the Hawkies out of the middle.

 

[voorhees]

going to be good watching treacy in the big thur night lights.
expect a great clash

 

[Madas]

This is not going to be good for my heart
Great match ups all over the ground
Hope Freo turns up to play consistently for 4 quarters
I can’t even guess who’ll win so I’m going with a draw

 

[Osho]

Terrif game.
Hawks look balanced, crafty, confident. Freo have shown a lot of close finish victory bona fides, grit.

I'm thinking Hawks may relish the away challenge, they don't seem a fragile team. Sometimes counter intuitively the home team can be troubled by expectation. I think also Hawks system is resilient and they can survive better even if some key players are down.

Hawks by 2 goals in a belter.

 

[Macca180]

Good game this.

Freo.

 

[jackster83]

Should be a good match.

Hawthorn to win a nail-biter with a dodgy ARC decision going their way.