Autopsy 2025 Preliminary Final: Hawks get rolled

[Jethro!]

Lewis had a great game, don’t know what you’re smoking.

Mitch got no supply at all in the second half. Played his role.
Smalls didn't fire tonight

 

[EightyNineChamps]

Would want to renegotiate the deal after tonight effort.

too late as I said, bought a house in Banockburn...

 

[Jethro!]

It might not feel like it at the moment, but we're close.

A few boys need more experience, which this finals series has helped to provide, and we need one or two player upgrades.

We've had a strong season with two fantastic finals wins on the road.

We're a different outfit when Day is playing - not just because of his skill, but because it frees up Newk. Newk can't do it alone, although he's had a bloody good go the last few weeks.

Just felt like we had a bunch of tired, sore boys out on the field today.

We'll be better again next year with another preseason under our belts.

Will Day actually hasn't played a final.
Much different outfit with him in the team.

 

[StackedHunch]

No Newc, no Hawks.

Great season overall and good launching pad for next year.

Gunners, Lewis and Nash can hold their heads high.

Yep, can't rely on one midfielder against a team which has nothing if not negating.

 

[Stottzy]

Midfield was terrible, but I thought Meek was also disappointing in the ruck. His tape work was ineffective and I thought the midfield looked better with Chol and Weddle in it.

Look, with Will Day back and adding a Trac or Merrett, then we can go the next step. But there are a few passengers that are concerning.

I think that is it for CJ. He was exciting when he was on, but boy I've never seen a player so frantic when he gets the ball in my life.

 

[mknaven]

Asked before and answered.

MacKenzie and MacDonald and Ramsden and HH. They dont get startled and can tackle.

CJ was a liability for his 3rd final in a row.

Refusing to bring anyone else in made it impossible to replace him because noone else had the chance.

If we think MacKenzie is worth Saints pick 7 but cant pick him ahead of CJ we are absolutely deluded.

Yea sorry i missed any previous responses.. I'm not here to say how well CJ played - in any of the finals we played - our tackling against the Crows was great. Ramma was never gonna be the sub. BMac kicked a great goal in the last game he played for us - dunno what his ball handling was like in recent VFL games (I didn't watch), but perhaps the FD felt their hands were tied after the semi as to who they could pick. Given the tackling strength of the Cats inside mid, i don't mind the HH choice, but he'd have to get a whole game to alleviate the pressure on Newk and not just be sub

 

[Stranglers]

Positives
1. Gunston was total class all night. Pity we couldn’t get him more looks as he had his opponent on toast.
2. Nash tried his guts out. Not subtle is big Connor but he smashed in hard all night
3. Lewis’s first half was great to watch even though he did seem to run out of tickets in the 2nd

Negatives
1. Watson, Wedds and Ward all having off nights was difficult to compensate for
2. Absolutely destroyed at the contest (especially centre bounce) all night
3. So many fumbles and dropped marks. Always same story against bloody Cats!
4. Got the rough end of the pineapple form the umps (as per usual when playing the Cats)
5. Watching a 36 year old Dangerflog year us a new one (yet again) was not pleasant

Still great effort to make a PF from 8th.

Get Day back healthy and one of Trac/Merrett and we are in it up to our necks next year

Great summary.

 

[JoeHawk]

Firstly booooooo to the corrupt umps who gave us freaking nothing. Two sets of rules out there. Cats far too good and clinical.
But hugely proud of the Hawks to get to the PF. Way beyond my expectations. Let’s go bigger and better next year.

 

[grumbleguts]

Petracca, Merrett and a bionic foot for Day would be handy. But hats off to Dangerfield for a brilliant game. Have seen better umpiring at Auskick. Hope someone wipes the smirk off Bailey Smith’s face next week.

He only had a brilliant game because we weren't allowed to touch him.

 

[The hands of stone]

Proud of the guys . Thought we fought it out but looked pretty spent after half time. Back to back interstate trips took their toll .

Lack of midfield stung us and obviously a key area to sort in the off season .

We have come a long way in 18 months , the coaches and club have done a terrific job.

Hopefully we get the prelim finalist draw next year of double ups against North and the tigers .....that would be handy

 

[Jimmy the Ghost]

I feel sick, who else feel's sick?

Those cnuts aren’t worth it

We have two things they dont
One has the number 1989 on it

The other one has 2008

 

[Cactus_]

Credit to the Hawks

You guys are a lot further along that I thought you were

Nothing to be ashamed of tonight, that was an absolutely ripping game of finals footy and probably the more mature side got away with the win

This Hawks side looking like real contenders in the next few years

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Petracca would have been perfect tonight.

Ah well, is Merrett any good?

 

[palmomagpie]

Glad I’ve got Bigfooty right now at least. Mrs Palmomagpie is laying there watching Hunting Wives with a “are you surprised” note stuck on the bedroom door, so I’ve got no hope of having a vent there. Young fella went to bed at 3QT heartbroken

 

[Hodginator]

Kudos to the boys on a decent year.

To get as far as we did with not a lot of spread through the midfield is a very good effort.

The next couple of years will be fun.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Great summary.

Cheers.

I like to do it straight after the game whilst it’s still fresh.

I probably forgot to mention Moores game as a positive as well, that’s the first final I’ve seen where he has played a real “Dylan Moore”’type game.

And also Chol had a industrious game as well, I always like to see him in the ruck.

 

[Delisted]

There was more than a few of our players who didn't have great nights tonight, and after the year that we had, I just can't understand those who decide that the first thing they want to do is single out 1 or 2 players and insult them. That's not what this place is about, and it's never been.

Why not congratulate the team on the ride they gave you? Why not think about how huge it was to even make a prelim from 8th?


Congrats to Gunners on a magnificent year.

Well I’m proud of the club for the season but there’s obvious flaws in our playing list that need to be improved upon. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

 

[MinerBoy]

I’ll take Merrett or Petracca or both… but given the choice a beast like Petracca would be far more valuable

 

[cyrilsez]

Started on fire,but it wasn't to be...........

geelong suck.

 

[burger09]

It was a great dream, but reality kicked in sadly.
Not quite ready. Another step closer though.
Danger had his way with us one last time.

We gave it everything like all of our finals.
No single players fault that's for sure.

Fill in our weaknesses and look out next year. WE ARE COMING.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

I’ll take Merrett or Petracca or both… but given the choice a beast like Petracca would be far more valuable

Absolutely.

Merrett doesn't move the needle tonight

 

[anders]

I would've subbed Mitch Lewis not butler, I know hindsights 20 20 and he kicked 3 early goals but my gut feeling was he wasn't Guna impact after half time.

Should have been meek

 

[ShortRaver]

Sicily on Ch7 post game interview, he’s heartbroken. I’m hoping he gets to see a premiership during his captaincy. And I hope he knows that the team is so close to one. Just gotta keep building.

 

[LunchboxLegend]

I’ll take Merrett or Petracca or both… but given the choice a beast like Petracca would be far more valuable

I’d pay butters literally whatever he wanted.

 

[Franko Armani]

Yeah , unfortunately for all the talk pre game, Blicavs was bloody incredible tonight. Poor Meeky just couldn’t fire a shot. Man, it kills me how good this flogs are. They were like the Harlem Globetrotters after qtr time , just unbelievable.