Who will be better in 2026? Geelong or Hawthorn.

[HairyO]

Hawthorn have only finished above us on the ladder 5 times since 2007, so they're probably due this year as it'll be hard to see them finishing above us for a while after we sign Butters.

Butters is probably rethinking Dogs and Cats and considering staying.

 

[My Tilly]

Before the season began, I had Hawthorn and Geelong around the same mark. Somewhere between 5th-8th and neither team seriously challenging for a flag.
Felt the inability of getting Merrett through the door would be a critical blow.

Hawthorn have improved in just about every area and not only that, they have found some young talent in the process.

They're one of a couple of teams who can knock off Brisbane in a grand final.

 

[Mr Meow]

Like I said for the 2025 thread, it should be Hawthorn for the first time since 2018. Eventually they have to do it. Their rebuild is almost a decade in the making while Geelong await the cliff.

It's still this.

 

[Cyclops]

Still chuckling about the debate back in Feb. Hawthorn 2013-2015 a good ordinary side? Lol.

Before the season began, I had Hawthorn and Geelong around the same mark. Somewhere between 5th-8th and neither team seriously challenging for a flag.
Felt the inability of getting Merrett through the door would be a critical blow.

Hawthorn have improved in just about every area and not only that, they have found some young talent in the process.

They're one of a couple of teams who can knock off Brisbane in a grand final.

I think my pre season thoughts were similar, had you just higher.

We get a look at Hawthorn on Thursday. Typically they beat us, genuine bogey side for the Pies.

After our fade out last year I'm sceptical of autumn form (this year im dubious of North, Melbourne and to an extent Sydneys ladder position), but Hawthorn are more about system than star power.

Mitchell's system is robust, and they have enough talent to make it work so excellent signs so far.

 

[My Tilly]

Mitchell's system is robust, and they have enough talent to make it work so excellent signs so far.

You can't discount the impact of the two big boys they signed last year. Looks like they needed a good year (certainly for Barrass) to settle in to the Hawthorn system.

Barrass is currently top five in the competition in my opinion. He's been solid as a rock.

 

[Catsnlakers]

Still chuckling about the debate back in Feb. Hawthorn 2013-2015 a good ordinary side? Lol.


I think my pre season thoughts were similar, had you just higher.

We get a look at Hawthorn on Thursday. Typically they beat us, genuine bogey side for the Pies.

After our fade out last year I'm sceptical of autumn form (this year im dubious of North, Melbourne and to an extent Sydneys ladder position), but Hawthorn are more about system than star power.

Mitchell's system is robust, and they have enough talent to make it work so excellent signs so far.

The last two years are cautionary tales, by the midway point, say roughly round 12, pundits were basically saying give the cup to the Swans in ‘24 and Pies in ‘25. So you raise a very good point, even though they’re 4-3, which reads only okay, I have actually seen nothing to sway me from the fact we’re still all chasing Brisbane. Hawthorn have a very good system, but lack the midfield depth IMO to go all the way through September, and Sydney has question marks down back if teams can equalise through the middle. We still lack a genuine ball winning midfielder and a good ruckman (for this years campaign, as Edwards is actually tracking ok). Lions with a full squad have no obvious weakness at all.

 

[jenniferHAWKinS]

The last two years are cautionary tales, by the midway point, say roughly round 12, pundits were basically saying give the cup to the Swans in ‘24 and Pies in ‘25. So you raise a very good point, even though they’re 4-3, which reads only okay, I have actually seen nothing to sway me from the fact we’re still all chasing Brisbane. Hawthorn have a very good system, but lack the midfield depth IMO to go all the way through September, and Sydney has question marks down back if teams can equalise through the middle. We still lack a genuine ball winning midfielder and a good ruckman (for this years campaign, as Edwards is actually tracking ok). Lions with a full squad have no obvious weakness at all.

Newcombe, Day, Nash, Macdonald, Ward, Weddle, Watson, Mackenzie, Moore and Ginnivan can all roll through the midfield with arguably the best ruck combo Meek and Reeves. Maginness as a stopper up Mitchell’s sleeve. A fit Day (unfortunately injury prone) is the key to the Hawks winning the flag this year with his absence in the last 2 final series costing a chance of playing on the last day in September.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

The last two years are cautionary tales, by the midway point, say roughly round 12, pundits were basically saying give the cup to the Swans in ‘24 and Pies in ‘25. So you raise a very good point, even though they’re 4-3, which reads only okay, I have actually seen nothing to sway me from the fact we’re still all chasing Brisbane. Hawthorn have a very good system, but lack the midfield depth IMO to go all the way through September, and Sydney has question marks down back if teams can equalise through the middle. We still lack a genuine ball winning midfielder and a good ruckman (for this years campaign, as Edwards is actually tracking ok). Lions with a full squad have no obvious weakness at all.

Hawthorns midfield depth isn’t the issue it’s the cemented stars, hence going for Merrett. There’s a lot of talent there it just isn’t yet clicked or fully developed, like Ward, Mackenzie, MacDonald etc

Hawthorns midfield has also performed pretty well despite not having Day until half way and a different mix to last year even.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Before the season began, I had Hawthorn and Geelong around the same mark. Somewhere between 5th-8th and neither team seriously challenging for a flag.
Felt the inability of getting Merrett through the door would be a critical blow.

Hawthorn have improved in just about every area and not only that, they have found some young talent in the process.

They're one of a couple of teams who can knock off Brisbane in a grand final.

This is a reasonable assessment
On paper, I thought the Suns star power middle would be too much for the Hawks but they comprehensively beat them.

Top 4 aspirant
Cats in 5th-8th zone and may well be lower

 

[Roddy]

I'm pretty happy with where we're at, while still keeping a lid on it. We're 6-1, with several of those wins coming against strong sides, without really being in any kind of scintillating form, and without what anyone could reasonably consider a 'superstar' whatsoever. Is Grandpa Gunston a superstar? Possibly. Is Newk a superstar? Maybe borderline? Wiz is a potential superstar, but isn't there yet. Same with Weds, and he's probably further away than Wiz (I was hoping he might explode this year, but it hasn't happened). I'd possibly describe Battle, Barrass and Sicily as superstar defenders, as opposed to out and out superstars. AND with a midfield that, on paper, few would consider a top ten or twelve midfield in the league.

We're in contention, at the moment, through team system and balance, and Sammy's savvy coaching and leadership. I'm hoping we'll bank enough wins to finish top 4 and he tapers our form up over the season so that we're fully firing at the business end.

 

[Cyclops]

I'm pretty happy with where we're at, while still keeping a lid on it. We're 6-1, with several of those wins coming against strong sides, without really being in any kind of scintillating form, and without what anyone could reasonably consider a 'superstar' whatsoever. Is Grandpa Gunston a superstar? Possibly. Is Newk a superstar? Maybe borderline? Wiz is a potential superstar, but isn't there yet. Same with Weds, and he's probably further away than Wiz (I was hoping he might explode this year, but it hasn't happened). I'd possibly describe Battle, Barrass and Sicily as superstar defenders, as opposed to out and out superstars. AND with a midfield that, on paper, few would consider a top ten or twelve midfield in the league.

We're in contention, at the moment, through team system and balance, and Sammy's savvy coaching and leadership. I'm hoping we'll bank enough wins to finish top 4 and he tapers our form up over the season so that we're fully firing at the business end.

The best thing in the world is when they "rate you, but...." You evade a lot of radar flying low.

Keeps coming back to Mitchell and his assistants, good coaches make for good players.

Got to have the club behind you, look at the way Essendon fell apart yet again. Scott is a decent coach but I think he's being actively white-anted by Sheeds etc. You could parachute Mitchell or Fly or Fagan or the other Scott in there and they'd still be bottom 4.