Autopsy Round 20, 2025: Hawks give them the Blues

[The Big Dipper]

It's a bit negative in here, I've got to say I'm surprised.

Plenty of positives for mine...

We finally have a forward capable of plucking a few contested marks in Lewis, so happy to have him firm up our forward structure. Gunners, Dear and Lewis looking like the likely key forward line up for finals with the best mosquito fleet in the business at their feet.

Ward was amazing last night, I've had my doubts he'd make it but this season he's finally showing he is a legitimate AFL midfielder and one of our best users. There's another level young fella, get after it!

Daisy back and providing a presence for the midfield and support for Newcombe who has carried a heavy load this year. 4 rounds left for Daisy to get back to his brilliant best. Could be captain soon if he gets his body right.

Scrim, Sis, Barass & Battle showing they can all fit in the side is encouraging.

We are spoilt for riches across half back and that could be our best asset come finals - Impey, Amon, Dimma, D'Ambrosio, Morrison, with Weddle and CJ looming as possible inclusions late in the season

Last but not least, Bailey Macdonald building into the ideal super sub come finals if Punky can't get up.

 

[scrim reaper]

You can take the Newcombe sub as a sign of intent. Bank the win, season defining stretch to come. Percentage doesn't mean sh*t if we roll into Adelaide exhausted and then lose.

We're adding Lewis and Dear to a team that's had to play Chol and smalls to start the season. 2 years ago it was Kosi and Fergus Greene

26

Fergus Greene

Age

28

Ht

187cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.8

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.8

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.0

4star

.

Adding Day to a team that needs midfield help badly.

We're 13-6 with all the right people at all the right time and so many are devastated we didn't win by 100.

You got not one but two Calshy genuine stunner marks, the good Sicily is back, TB absolute brick wall, Day comes back and takes a hanger in the middle of the ground, the insanely well worked handball chain on the wing that led to the CMac goal, BMac run and dash (BS ran too far call, cost us a goal too), and Gunston's entire third quarter.

We won the game in the first quarter, put the cue in the rack, and had some of the most fun moments of the season, as well as some obvious signs of things coming together. People literally pay the same membership fees as you to watch St Kilda on Sundays under a roof, lose the game, and have none of those fun things happen.

Job done, enjoy your weekends. Try smiling even.

 

[A Cut Above]

So I went along last night & though the margin could've been higher there were many long-term positive signs.

• Lewis showing glimpses of his potential if he can stay fit, could become a monster to terrify the competition.
• Likewise Dear, massive upside given his age. Will be a joy to watch him alongside Weddle & Watson in years to come.
• Sicily's best game of the year, coming at the right time. Huge turnaround from a few months back & very timely.
• Scrimshaw marked everything, a few poor kicks but the defence looked much more settled with him there.
• Day made it through the game and displayed his usual flashes of brilliance.
• Ward was terrific again, easily our most improved player of 2025.

Lots of room for improvement obviously. The midfield looked pedestrian without Newcombe in the second half and seems overly reliant on Meek getting on top in the ruck.

I do think we're short another top-flight mid before we can seriously challenge but the KPP stocks look terrific and those pieces are harder to acquire. Long term we're in a terrific position to challenge over the next few years, perhaps for a sustained period. Which would seem like a much bigger deal if this wasn't Hawthorn where Premierships are expected.

Oh and because it wouldn't be one of my posts without injecting a little controversy - after damn near freezing to death on the third level last night I've made up my mind... I do prefer attending games at Docklands than the MCG. Still grateful we play home games at the G because that's where flags are won, but from a spectator perspective Marvel's so much cushier.

 

[Lando_]

Nice win. Did what we had to do. Great to see Day back and to see the skipper back in some sort of form. We are rolling towards finals nicely.

 

[HedgeFund]

Last but not least, Bailey Macdonald building into the ideal super sub come finals if Punky can't get up.

 

[TylerDurden]

The biggest win is Sicilys form.
Not 100% yet, but very close!!

Barrass was immense.

Scrim contested marking a feature.

Strap in for the next 4 weeks!!!

 

[burner1]

Another average game to watch. Teams love to clog up the midfield etc against us and games become a slog.

As good as our intercept marking was we did look again vulnerable at ground level again with too many talls.

Does feel like we’ve pushed battle into a less prominent role which is providing space for Sicily to do his thing. Think earlier in year were getting in each others way.

Getting game time into Day, Dear and Lewis was the main win from the game. Day and Dear especially make us a better side as have that x-factor / smarts - we need both firing.

Midfield remains an area of concern. Jai appears to be carrying something and meek seems a bit banged up.

The next few weeks are the real test. If we can’t get past one of crows, pies or lions we’ll know we’re just making up numbers in finals (if we make it).

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Felt a bit like the Aints game. Just do enough to keep them 20 points away.

Maybe that is the team we are. Not a smasher. Just enougher

 

[moginie]

Felt a bit like the Aints game. Just do enough to keep them 20 points away.

Maybe that is the team we are. Not a smasher. Just enougher

Considering that you said it was their grand final, it's a satisfactory result.

 

[cryptor]

Listening to Sam on SEN this morning he essentially said Carlton used flooding tactics after quarter time to stifle us.

Thanks for the snoozefest Voss Lyon.

 

[unitedhawk2]

What's not to like?

Welcome back, Skipper!

Building nicely, Mitchy!

Air Dear!

Good Day!

 

[Jethro!]

I just watched the Kayo mini. They didn't show Calshers one hander or Days grab. Who edits those things? Was basically just a lead up to goal passage selection. Wasn't exactly an electric game but why not show the few electric bits

 

[Arrogant Frog]

At the game last night I was a bit disappointed, but upon reflection if someone offered a four goal win and no injuries I would take it for sure.

Plenty of positives as already mentioned, Sicily, Day, Dear, Lewis, Barass etc.

Still plenty to work on, we were beaten in the middle, especially when Meek went off, but not many teams have a two ruck combo. Newk and Day being managed probably had a lot to do with it too.

Was a bit disappointed with the hawk fans in the MCC, there were plenty of hawk scarfs and jersey's, but very little noise, barely a clap when we kicked a goal. I know it's more of a subdued crowd there, but sometimes I wish our fans had a bit more passion.

 

[fairdinks]

Sicily with 14 intercepts

Welcome back skipper!

Worst officiated game I think I've seen though. Out tackled, out pressured and out played them all night but we only got 2 free kicks for the second half.

Can anyone really see Choly being left on the sidelines after the season he's had.
Sam will be busting his gut to fit him in the side. I don't know where but Cholly will be back.

Agree, Chol cannot be left out after his season so far. It would be soul destroying and wrong IMO.

Meek is looking a bit weary, so I can see Chol playing and being used in the ruck a bit more to give Meek a chop out for a few weeks. Adelaide has O'Brien and Thilthorp so would be dangerous to have a lessor ruck against them when Meek rests.

 

[fairdinks]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but ALL of our set forwards kicked a goal last night, except Moore who spent much more time up the field. Two mids hit the scoreboard again as well.

Good signs

 

[phlogiston]

Lots to like I'd say. Unfortunately I missed the game due to my commitments yesterday running well over time, but I watched most of the replay.

One thing that stands out for me is(irony alert) is the evenness across the team. You watch a Collingwood and there's a highly variable team in terms of ability. They have the Daicoses and a few others, but what do their bottom 6 do? Same is true for Carlton, and a number of other teams. Out bottom 6 would frankly get a spot in the majority of teams in the league I'd imagine.

The game has changed and it's more around systems than human highlights reels.

I think our evenness is a strength. Does it make for a great spectacle? Not necessarily. Are we here for spectacle or flags? Ideally both, but if I could only have it would be the latter. Thus, I'd rather Sam & co think about the premiership points we need rather than going all out for a percentage booster.

It's really fun looking at the big picture and enjoying our improvement across the board. Unsure why some can't see it that way.

P

 

[Blackhawk42]

I just watched the Kayo mini. They didn't show Calshers one hander or Days grab. Who edits those things? Was basically just a lead up to goal passage selection. Wasn't exactly an electric game but why not show the few electric bits

There was a game last year where Wizard kicked a few goals. They only showed one in the mini, but found time to show him getting caught holding the ball twice. We won the game too.

I couldn't believe it.

Can't remember which game it was exactly though.

 

[MC_9]

The biggest win is Sicilys form.
Not 100% yet, but very close!!

Barrass was immense.

Scrim contested marking a feature.

Strap in for the next 4 weeks!!!

And Moore. Has had a great last 6 weeks.

 

[I wanna pash Nash]

I seriously don't understand the negativity. Sic looked back. Scrim killed it. Barrass killed it. Our defensive 50 looks really solid with Hardwick back there full time.
Dear looks like continuing on from last year. Lewis and Day both got through. To my eye we played patchy, but some of our patches were as good as we've looked all year. Midfield does need to lift for us to really contend.

Of course if we play patchy we won't win it. But the next 5 weeks are such a great platform for us. I'm more confident now than when we slapped around North.

 

[badgrill]

has anyone mentioned our latest Ruckman - Ginni ?

 

[smeltitdeltit]

Mitch no doubt couldn’t have, shouldn’t have, and wouldn’t have had all of Chol, Lewis, Dear AND Gunston all fit and firing at once.

 

[hfc70]

Scrim needs to learn from Frosty and “do the basics well” - nothing more

 

[The Big Dipper]

Can anyone give any understanding as to why Cripps was playing Ruck in the 2nd half when they had McKay and 2 ruckman?

 

[Faithful Hawk]

What the **** is wrong with our supporters.

People are saying we wasted our chance fpr top four?!?!?

According to maths we havent done that.

ID rather we keep winning. We've got the top 3 teams in the next 4 weeks. Win three of our next four and we will be top 4

Sicily back in form and working cohesively with Barrass and Battle is a massive win, the forward pairing of Dear, Gunston and Lewis is another massive win. Will Day getting through a full game is a huge win

I am not sure why people are so doen on us

I agree percentage is going to mean nothing if we don’t win 2-3 of our last 4 games anyhow.

 

[Buckemenico]

13-6 normally has a team pressing for top4 and top 2 even. Don't know why anyone is negative frankly.

Calsher Dear is one of the biggest draft steals of all time. Only in year 2, missed most of this year and already looks like a top 3 pick. Better than the Kings and all of the key position players drafted in last 5-8 years. Maybe Cadman now is showing glimpses but that's all. He is taking Carey-like marks and I feel the bigger the stage, the better he will get.

The next stage of our progression is to win consistently on the road rather than gallant losses. When that comes, we are looking right at the business end of it all for years to come.