Autopsy 2025 Preliminary Final: Hawks get rolled

[Hawked Wings]

Should've put more points on the board early but didn't. Unbelievable club the cats are, hate them but nothing but respect. We go again next year. Glad to see what Lewis can do, we add day and Merrett....patience

 

[BlueWaterHawk]

That underhand flick/throw after we kicked 3 on the trot… FMD

Match killer, hey got away with a lot of throws, this one was the worst.

 

[StackedHunch]

They can bring in Tanner Bruhn for him

Sadly, they would if they could, that's how bad their culture is.

 

[marklar]

Honestly, to finish the season 4th is about right, yes it sucks to lose to the old enemy tonight, but that's just how it is this year.

The boys will have learnt a lot about what it takes, our recruiting team even more so.

I'm not going to pot anyone for their efforts tonight, we didn't have any passengers in that respect. Skills and experience can only improve from here.

I will just repeat the comment from my NRL-loving friend that watched the game with me tonight, he doesn't really understand AFL, but he said "man, I don't know the rules of your game, but your guys really got bent over with all the throws and that over the line but touched call"

 

[Breustiful]

Smashed in the centre - shows we need a Merrett type (alongside a fit and firing Day).

Good to see Hawk supporters turn up in huge numbers.

First quarter was great. Rest was forgettable with a lot of fumbles. They’ll learn.

Onwards and upwards to 2026.

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

They managed to have a free player in defence in the middle and forward.

That is only possible if our players are terribly out of position. And we were all night.

Watson in defence was worse than Barrass forward.

What's that got to do with anything I said

 

[Plat the Rat]

100%

With a midfield that's this average, it is strange how Hustwaite, Mackenzie can't break in to be at least the sub. Even Serong. Made VFL team of the year, but can't even play one game this year. Was even happy for him to play this game over CJ.

Mitchell needs to grow and evolve as a coach, my only worry is he’s always been seen as a stubborn person and he really needs to see the error of his ways with some of his selections and playing favourites with players who objectively do not deserve selection and too harsh on others.

 

[SSSSSS]

Proud of the effort all season to get this far. We ran out of tickets at the end. Plenty of players played saved their worst game for tonight.

The umpiring was suspect but Geelong showed us how it's done when it mattered. The brutalised us and capitalised on their dominance. We didn't.

Lot of learnings and a bright future for the club.

Nash played one of his best games. Chol I thought was massive for us. Never stopped trying. Gunners too.

 

[BuddwaGOAT]

Fuxk me, Dangerfield plays with different rules to us.

Felt like he brought his own whistle.

 

[Bedi]

Well what a sobering reality check that was. Some extremely frustrating goals overturned at crucial stages didnt help, but neither did the fact we were so badly smashed in the midfield. Destroyed, even. We gave it a good crack, but ultimately we were not good enough this year, simple as that.

 

[hr_23]

Croc of Sh*t
Umpires influenced that game & you can’t change my mind

 

[Delisted]

Absolutely.

Merrett doesn't move the needle tonight

If by some miracle it’s Butters, I’d prefer we head to the draft.

 

[Sizzlesilk]

Ill never ever understand why Serong never got one look at it this year.
Emergency almost every week.
Has to leave to get a regular game.
And he will.

 

[SSSSSS]

They just broke so many of our tackles. We were cooked.

Couldn't stick tackles that we were landing the last two weeks.

 

[MrBeefSeven]

We did well to win two finals, but top 4 would've made things a lot easier for us.
Many games this year lost from winnable positions. Hopefully learn from that.
Even if we get Merrett, the key will be a fit Day. He is our best.

 

[LindaCrescent]

I'm off to drown my sorrows with a midnight snack, a beef wellington

 

[Jethro!]

I do think Mitch was a bit narrow with his selection this year. No debutantes. Hopefully a bit braver with selection next year.

 

[Jimmy the Ghost]

Absolutely nothing in it.

Chol didn’t drive him into the ground, Stewart was already moving forward.

Pretty sure butler was hanging on too

 

[Jethro!]

I'm off to drown my sorrows with a midnight snack, a beef wellington

Sans mushrooms please

 

[hawkman]

Smashed in the centre - shows we need a Merrett type (alongside a fit and firing Day).

Good to see Hawk supporters turn up in huge numbers.

First quarter was great. Rest was forgettable with a lot of fumbles. They’ll learn.

Onwards and upwards to 2026.

Even the 1st quarter was fumbly, just we were able to force Geelong into so many errors that we were able to get away with it

 

[almuz]

Croc of Sh*t
Umpires influenced that game & you can’t change my mind

REAL. Spare me the beaten by a better team. That second quarter and start of third was criminal. The Sicily(?) weird interference call on the flank lead to a goal. Same with a Cats throw.

May the Tanner Bruhn, Bailey Smiths meet their fate next week

 

[Plat the Rat]

Ill never ever understand why Serong never got one look at it this year.
Emergency almost every week.
Has to leave to get a regular game.
And he will.

He plays in a position we are over stocked in, I reckon even scrimshaw is one extra of that type of player we seem to get away with playing but we got killed on the ground in forward 50 tonight, need another Hardwick or two. Not 5 Sicily, battle, scrimshaw, serong even barrass type interceptors that are useless when the ball is on the ground.

 

[StackedHunch]

Fuxk me, Dangerfield plays with different rules to us.

He's the Novak Djokovic of footy. A champion, but his record is enhanced by cheating.

 

[Jethro!]

The umpires reamed us in that second quarter - final result aside there were about 3 calls which resulted in 12 point plays.

I'm no wiser what holding the ball is after tonight.
Cats better but that was a joke

 

[edster]

With a literal one man midfield basically all season, I am disappointed that we lost a PF. But they are by far a more experienced, battle hardened Cats team.

Proud of the boys made it this far without Day all season. And improved from last season. But it is clear what the list management needs to address. Midfield midfield and midfield a position list management neglected in the past few trade periods. Need a genuine A grade bull midfielder. And add depth to the midfield. We currently out of the top 10 sides we have the least genuine options in the midfield. We have a lot of versatility with forwards, backs and wings. But no versatility and no depth thru the coalface.

Wizard, Ginni, Dear showed clear improvement this season. Another preseason will see them raise to another level.

Like to see Weddle work on becoming a genuine mid next season.

Not sad that we saw the last of Worpel. Too slow to be a release valve, too small to be an inside bull, don’t have any tricks, too indecisive lack composure when we needed him to stand up.