Autopsy 2025 Preliminary Final: Hawks get rolled

[StackedHunch]

Ultimately, our Achilles heel was too much to overcome. They shut down Newcombe comprehensively and we got smashed at clearance. Nash stood up massively but it wasn’t enough.

I felt our backline did reasonably given the sheer amount of unpressured ball that was coming in, and our forwards were potent with the few chances they got.

I’m proud of how far we got and disappointed we fell short. Priority number one in the offseason should be midfielders.

Perhaps we need more taggers. Given Geelong have demonstrated how easily you can negate better opponents, maybe we need the same. Bad for fans, but wins games.

 

[hawkmang]

I reckon a few of our young blokes will wake up in a cold sweat thinking about moments in the game tonight. Cats big game experience really showed through. Hopefully our boys hurt after that loss and let it drive them to go two better next year.

 

[Argy]

Our midfield was exposed tonight. Day would have made a difference, but we are still a long way off. Worpel was our second best tonight, but he might like to think twice about heading to Geelong. He might struggle to get a game.

 

[seysearles]

We beat Geelong when it matters.
"They haven't beaten us in a knock out final since 1963."

#Reset

Fair play. I was getting ready to post the Kennett Curse meme if we had won so we probably have to cop this when we lose. Enjoy losing a grand final next week too.

 

[onthemoney]

Ah well, no grand final to miss. If he robs that campaigner Stewart of a premiership, he deserves a massive pay rise.

Shit post, you want opposition players to be injured and miss grand finals through concussion? Unhinged.

 

[hr_23]

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

Gunston holding in the goal square give me a spell.. would’ve put us 26 points up & we would’ve broken them
But nope Geelong are too far behind we need to get them back in the game fu*ck off!!

 

[Tony Barber]

Fair play. I was getting ready to post the Kennett Curse meme if we had won so we probably have to cop this when we lose. Enjoy losing a grand final next week too.

You dont lose grand finals. You win them. You know that.

 

[Hawker1167]

Great season and hopefully learn from this as much as it hurts

On the train an old bloke would have been min 80yo and Richmond life member - said that he just witnessed the worse umpiring he had ever seen and they “crueled us” whether we would have still won I don’t think so but wow did the frogs manage to stop our momentum swings.

Next year Zac and a fit Will day will make a difference

See ya Worps and enjoy Geelong the home of soft free kicks - CJ hmmmm I don’t get how he got a game

Rant over - see ya next season

#alwaysHawthorn

 

[Meek Juggernaut]

wheres sams press conference?????

It was on kayo half an hour ago

 

[hr_23]

Shit post, you want opposition players to be injured and miss grand finals through concussion? Unhinged.

I don’t wish ill on any opponent but that was holding the ball!!

 

[Ka Norkers]

lost the flag up at the Gabba, not tonight.
Hawks were wading thru mud after quarter time, absolutely spent.
great season, get Day and Dear back, Ward keeps improving, and next year they take the next step.

 

[Dewwwww]

Super proud to get to a Prelim. However our floors were very exposed tonight.
Think we need to bring in both Merrett and Petracca. Dangerfields power out of the middle destroyed us tonight.
We knew they were going to target Newk / Weddle and Watson however we had no answers!
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Onto bigger and better things in 2026!

 

[westhawk]

This... Geelong were a lot harder and committed to the pill tonight, smashed us in 1:1s, stuck tackles, won loose ball and hunted the packs. We have too many receivers in the side who were exposed tonight. CMac again.

Spot on, too many sit back and wait, hoping someone will get the hard ball for them. Just won’t cut it against Geelong.

 

[Wingnut19]

Our midfield was exposed tonight. Day would have made a difference, but we are still a long way off. Worpel was our second best tonight, but he might like to think twice about heading to Geelong. He might struggle to get a game.

Come again? Worpel was what??

 

[seysearles]

You dont lose grand finals. You win them. You know that.

Can you handle losing one though? Its worse than losing a prelim. Im still scarred about 2012.

 

[BlueWaterHawk]

Gunston holding in the goal square give me a spell.. would’ve put us 26 points up & we would’ve broken them
But nope Geelong are too far behind we need to get them back in the game fu*ck off!!

Man I had forgotten about that, feel shit now, pressure would have been mounting on them heavily with that goal

 

[StackedHunch]

Shit post, you want opposition players to be injured and miss grand finals through concussion? Unhinged.

The guy's a thug who snipes without penalty. The whole culture of Geelong is rotten. Just a pity we weren't allowed a fair fight tonight, even if we'd probably have lost.

 

[hr_23]

I want Day, Merrett & Petracca!!

 

[MasterSamurai]

Need more than one inside mid. Before Merrett, go get Trac. Need clearence dominance and also less articles and tv shows to attend to by our players in the week leading up to a ****ing prelim!! Cats just sat and watched it all unfold quietly all week.
The club needs to go back to post 2008 clarko years as far as giving less and less access to players, who, really haven't achieved any ultimate success. İt's sort of a pet hate of mine, don't know why but I'd rather have players just concentrate on the week ahead.

 

[OhhhhhCyril]

Not gonna make any excuses.
Just not good enough. Really shows how badly we need an A grade midfielder.

I couldn't not be more proud of our boys to make a prelim. Only good things to come.

 

[hr_23]

Man I had forgotten about that, feel shit now, pressure would have been mounting on them heavily with that goal

Turning point in the game

 

[Matilda05]

Disappointed for the loss, proud of the season. Dangerfield does get umpired by a different set of rules, but he also has the ability to turn the momentum of a game on its head he's that good. Will be interesting to see what Sammy and the support staff do this trade period as the murmurings of his arrogance won't go away if he thinks we can go again with the list as.

 

[Dazza the Viking]

I’ll 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.

Obviously had his papers stamped, very early on in the season by the looks

 

[almuz]

We have no midfield leg speed for those CBAs where it spills out. Need some explosive athletes or at least guys who can anticipate or hold off. Felt like every time it spilled out there were 3 cats and one hawk

 

[VandoHawk]

Perhaps we need more taggers. Given Geelong have demonstrated how easily you can negate better opponents, maybe we need the same. Bad for fans, but wins games.

Geelong can afford to do it because their top end is very good. It doesn’t matter that O’Connor is the lowest rated player on the field when he’s completely shut down Weddle. Atkins can afford to dedicate himself purely to tackling and blocking, then worrying about transition play after, because it enables the better players.

If we tag, we’re left with too little. I think it’s why Finn was utilised so sparingly at centre clearance despite being effective at his role.

That could change next year depending on Day returning and acquisitions. We can use Finn as a hard tagger, and both Nash/Butler have soft tagged in the past.