Autopsy 2025 Preliminary Final: Hawks get rolled

[Cannyman]

At the game the free against Gunston in the second quarter looked incredibly soft. Watched the replay just before and it was even worse than I thought. All the outrage over the non free to Elliott last night and how it swung momentum but absolute silence on what was a howler is interesting. Didn't help that the two main commentators on fox are one eyed cats supporters so didn't say anything about it.

Butlers mark went about 20m a few minutes later and followed up with about 3 10m kicks by Geelong that all got paid marks was infuriating from the stands. The lack of consistency is the biggest issue the game has from the umpiring side of things.

Didn't really impact the result but geez it would have been nice to go into half time with a couple of extra goals on the board and likely a small lead.

The big "scoop"/throw was my favourite.

 

[Paul Kersey]

That Gunston one was as bad as the Rayner free in the qualifying final.

 

[bamp]

It's probably just my opinion, but after all was said about how soft a run Geelong has had into the prelim, and with a virtually full list to choose from, compared to ours, the only difference on the night was Dangerfield - if he doesn't play, i reckon we win, or get within a goal. So for all the talk about how we were 2 midfielders short, and the media talking about Geelong's impressive side, it really was just one player (albeit probably the best contested ball winner in the AFL imho) who took it away from us.

The fact we never gave up and made multiple efforts in the fourth quarter, with Chol's goal cutting the lead down to 18 was also heartening.

 

[RobHawk]

That second quarter was criminally umpired
Take that anyway you want

 

[DearJai]

Until they changed their game plan and we didn't. They crowded and pressured our players preventing us from moving the ball amongst our players. When that happened you could see when a player took possession of the ball and looked up, there was no one ahead of him. It was either a quick kick, that was easily intercepted or they got caught. We didn't seem to have an alternate game plan to counter it.

Comes from us running out of legs too though. They can’t do this if we’re stronger around clearance and playing the way we want to, which requires high pressure around the ball, hard run both ways and petrol tickets.

We had 0 issues with their change in styles until around 8 minutes to go in the quarter. I doubt very much that they changed anything mid stream in the 2nd.

Or they can only do it to us till we get the game back on our terms. Like we did when GWS got on top of us at clearance for 5 minutes or so.

It was still almost an arm wrestle with half our guys flat as a shisenhouzen anyway.

2 interstate finals, one of which was a monster game and win, did us in as much as Danger, a thin midfield and Geelong.

Did you notice that we were all over them, before the run and energy started to dry up, and they got back in the game. We were struggling slowing up even before Wiz kicked that miracle snap.

For Gary Lyon to comment on it not long after is for it to be blind freddy level obvious.

 

[Elhawko]

It's probably just my opinion, but after all was said about how soft a run Geelong has had into the prelim, and with a virtually full list to choose from, compared to ours, the only difference on the night was Dangerfield - if he doesn't play, i reckon we win, or get within a goal. So for all the talk about how we were 2 midfielders short, and the media talking about Geelong's impressive side, it really was just one player (albeit probably the best contested ball winner in the AFL imho) who took it away from us.

The fact we never gave up and made multiple efforts in the fourth quarter, with Chol's goal cutting the lead down to 18 was also heartening.

I don't know if I can be bothered watching the GF but it will be interesting to see how Danger goes next week. It seems like they almost set him especially for the Prelim by giving him a short run in the midfield their game prior and then unleashing him there full time against us (not because it was us, just that we happened to be the opponent) after a week's rest. Wonder if he can do it twice in a row?

 

[RCAB]

Good comment. Mr Meow how about replying to the post if you disagree, rather than stalking our board in your GF week like a little b*tch?

He can be a tool of the biggest order.

I pm'ed him once because he was derailing a thread, he just got back from a suspension last week.

He complained I had reported his posts but it wasn't me.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

What I’m learning about this current team, is that for the most part they hate losing. I think the team will bounce back. For the best part of 2 decades, our measuring stick has been Geelong. When ever we have been able to beat Geelong we have normally won the premiership, except for a couple of abnormalities.

Spot on, in 2015 we beat them twice went on to win the flag. Finals ,in all of 08, 13 and 14. That's why I was very confident we would have done it this year had we won through.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

I love it . Great for the club/team .
It fell away during that period we were very ordinary (Clarkos last 4-5 years ) , but we are closing the gap in the last 18 months and its back imo.

Its a beauty and we will get our turn over the next period of time

Mitchell has beaten Scott once in his career of coaching and you can tell he's getting frustrated with it. Hates losing at the best of times but consistently by the same team is why he's being ruthless with the list. Doing what he can to turn the tables. It's only a true rivalry if we win some big matches however. Them constantly owning us doesn't inspire me to get inspired.

 

[SA HAWK]

Mitchell has beaten Scott once in his career of coaching and you can tell he's getting frustrated with it. Hates losing at the best of times but consistently by the same team is why he's being ruthless with the list. Doing what he can to turn the tables. It's only a true rivalry if we win some big matches however. Them constantly owning us doesn't inspire me to get inspired.

This year was the only time we have been anywhere near them.

The one win we did have was a complete surprise they won the flag that year and we were trash.

 

[SA HAWK]

Spot on, in 2015 we beat them twice went on to win the flag. Finals ,in all of 08, 13 and 14. That's why I was very confident we would have done it this year had we won through.

You thought we would win this year because we beat them 10 years ago when we were actually the better side?

 

[Mr Meow]

Good comment. Mr Meow how about replying to the post if you disagree, rather than stalking our board in your GF week like a little b*tch?

It wasn't intended to trigger anybody and I respect all Hawthorn supporters interpretation of events. We can agree to disagree without a war of words. Autopsy threads are commonly perused by outsiders.

 

[StackedHunch]

It wasn't intended to trigger anybody and I respect all Hawthorn supporters interpretation of events. We can agree to disagree without a war of words. Autopsy threads are commonly perused by outsiders.

Bollocks. Laugh reacts to serious posts on opposition boards are almost always trolling. Enjoy your grand final week. I look forward to playing you when we have a midfield.

 

[Mr Meow]

Bollocks. Laugh reacts to serious posts on opposition boards are almost always trolling. Enjoy your grand final week. I look forward to playing you when we have a midfield.

No, I genuinely laughed. But now that I know it upset you, out of courtesy I won't do it again.

I'm glad you finished the exchange in good spirit and echo those thoughts. Hawthorn had a brilliant season and will only get better.

 

[Buzz Hawk]

Did I read somewhere that Ward didn’t have a possession in the second half.
I like wardy but that is criminal.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

You thought we would win this year because we beat them 10 years ago when we were actually the better side?

Omen thing mate just go with it

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

It wasn't intended to trigger anybody and I respect all Hawthorn supporters interpretation of events. We can agree to disagree without a war of words. Autopsy threads are commonly perused by outsiders.

I’d suggest you re-think laugh reacting posts here unless you want to lose the ability to do so anywhere.

 

[Mr Meow]

I’d suggest you re-think laugh read it g posts here unless you want to lose the ability to do so anywhere.

Understood and I respect everything you do for the community. I will take my leave now and wish all of you the very best.

 

[westhawk]

Did I read somewhere that Ward didn’t have a possession in the second half.
I like wardy but that is criminal.

Correct, didn’t get a single possession.

 

[BigHawk2025]

You're right that we can't rely on him to put together the consistent games. Respectfully, I don't think you're right to suggest we still would have lost without him. We would have won more games with him this year with him playing, and been top four, probably top of the ladder. Wouldn't have had an exhausted team in the second half. Also, even with our tough finals route, he would have tilted the midfield a lot. Dangerfield wouldn't have dominated if he'd played.

Anyone, now all hypotheticals. We do need Merrett, Petracca would be handy too, as yes, who knows if Day will ever be reliably in, given even when his body has held up, he's had cursed luck (like when that pig from Richmond threw Nuke into him, and Christian didn't care enough to investigate him).

Exactly… could have scenarios. If day fully fit yes agree top four, but hasn’t done it before (a full season) so we can only assume. Anyway great finish to our year.. on to the trade period… go lions!

 

[MasterSamurai]

Correct, didn’t get a single possession.

Yep, got beaten up real good unfortunately. Need players with real core strength in the middle or else you'll be left watching others dust .

 

[The Kipster]

No point in blaming the umps it is what it is.
I only wish the Sammy took a Leigh Mathews thing and just had Meeky smashing the ball forward at all costs, once it was clear we were being beaten up around the stoppages.
If Mabs wasn't needed so much in the forward 50, I would of loved him rucking more around the ground too.

 

[Mr Meow]

why are you trying to sound sophisticated and diplomatic ....be like 70 % of your fans .....morons

it would sound more sincere at least


I haven't seen Tanner Bruhn all season either ...I wonder what's happening there .....

Apologies for not posting suitably. I was responding to a moderator. What's the purpose of quoting me here though? Have a fantastic evening.

 

[DearJai]

He can be a tool of the biggest order.

I pm'ed him once because he was derailing a thread, he just got back from a suspension last week.

He complained I had reported his posts but it wasn't me.

Meow has been stalking me like an ex-girlfriend I had in the 1990s the past week, because he presumably isn't satisfied with me not replying to him anymore.

I'm guilty of stinking up a thread responding to him and winding him up, over and over.

But there's some serious dysfunction in a guy who can be both a tool and obsessive enough to react and comment on unrelated posts on the main and our club's boards on repeat, well after the fact.

Someone lacking self awareness to that extent, probably needs help, and may not have many real-world resources available to deal with the cut and thrust of big footy.

Avoid imo, and perhaps ban him from this board for a while to let him cool his jets.

 

[The hands of stone]

Mitchell has beaten Scott once in his career of coaching and you can tell he's getting frustrated with it. Hates losing at the best of times but consistently by the same team is why he's being ruthless with the list. Doing what he can to turn the tables. It's only a true rivalry if we win some big matches however. Them constantly owning us doesn't inspire me to get inspired.

Sam's a competitor so obviously hates losing and wouldnt enjoy Scott/Cats winning against us .

They are better than us but the gap is closing and isnt as huge as some might think .
We had 5 interstate games in 8 leading to last Friday against a rested , well managed side .

Scotts been coaching almost 15 seasons to Sams 3. 18 months ago we were bottom 4 , they are a perrenial challenger.

Its a rivalry because we are a decent side on the improve and we should be confident if now going toe to toe with them