Off the back of their scintillating form throughout the second half of 2024 that ultimately resulted in their first finals win since their most recent premiership, there is no doubting both the excitement and pressure on the Hawks entering 2025.
And so, as we enter the season of predictions and forecasts from avid fans, expert analysts and everyone in-between, the Talking Hawks team have weighed in with ten bold predictions about the Hawks’ upcoming campaign.
1. Cam Mackenzie becomes a core member of the Hawks engine room.
– Ollie Tisbury
Drafted with pick seven in the 2022 National Draft as a poised, classy midfielder who drew comparisons to players like Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett and even current coach Sam Mitchell, Mackenzie has almost evenly split his playing time between AFL and VFL levels throughout his first three seasons.
Despite constantly displaying the composure, skill and footballing smarts that attracted him to the Hawks in the first place, the stacked midfield depth of the team, led by players like Jai Newcombe and Will Day, has seen the majority of Mackenzie’s 34 senior games predominately spent at half-forward or on the wing; and ultimately unable to fully exhibit his weapons.
However season 2025 looms as a breakout for the young star, as consistent mention throughout the preseason of his eye-catching play and obvious physical development has him well-placed to permanently lock-down a position in Hawthorn’s engine room.
2. Nick Watson kicks 35+ goals and leads the Hawks’ goalkicking.
– Ollie Tisbury
Coming off a stellar debut season that saw him kick 25 goals from over 50 scoring shots, all signs point towards Nick “The Wizard” Watson becoming the next great Hawthorn small forward.
Though initial issues surrounding both his height and accuracy around goal somewhat tainted the start of Watson’s 2024 season, he was quickly able to cast aside any doubts around his freakish ability and ended up finishing the year as arguably Hawthorn’s most damaging forward, kicking 13 goals in his final four matches, including seven across two finals.
Despite the dynamic and balanced nature of Hawthorn’s forward crop meaning the team relies much heavier on a committee effort to kick a winning score, it will be no surprise to see Watson build upon personal momentum and spearhead the Hawks attack at just 20 years of age.
3. Jai Newcombe brushes with Brownlow glory and finishes in the Top-5 at a minimum.
– Rebecca Connell
Since debuting in 2021, Jai Newcombe has impressed the footy world time and time again. At the age of 23 and with only 32 games under his belt, the boy from Pooyong has been listed as the Vice Captain of the 2023 22-under-22 team, polled 53 Brownlow votes and won the 2024 Peter Crimmins Medal.
Despite last year’s Brownlow count offering an unprecedented amount of votes to two players in the league (winner Patrick Cripps with 45, and runner up Nick Daicos with 38), “Newk” was still able to finish in the top ten of the count, just a point shy of perennial All-Australian Errol Gulden.
Based on the assumption that this lopsided voting would be at least somewhat corrected, umpires may be more wary of how they distribute their votes this year, meaning Newcombe’s chances of rising further up the ladder might be a tad boosted.
Regardless, in his short career, Newcombe has rapidly climbed towards the peak of the mountain in terms of the games highest individual honour, from mid-season recruit to top ten contender in less than five years.
Entering his fifth year in the AFL system and with a fiftieth game on the horizon, one could see him garnering more votes and, not only cracking the top five but potentially giving the tally leader a right scare.
4. The Hawks reach at least the Preliminary Final.
– Ollie Tisbury
If you were to have a look at the current betting odds for who the public believes will achieve premiership glory in 2025, as well as predictions from media outlets including Fox Footy, The Herald Sun and SEN, this projection may not seem bold at all.
Though it would be fair to assume that a team who were able to overcome a 0-5 start, and finish three agonising points away from a Preliminary Final berth in 2024 would naturally cruise to the next level, linear progression and AFL football are two things that don’t often go hand-in-hand.
However all indications out of the preseason so far point directly at the hunger and drive for an even deeper September run from a team who have been further boosted by some big offseason additions.
5. Mitch Lewis returns mid-season and has at least three games of 3+ goals.
– Ollie Tisbury
Despite all reports indicating that his commitment to recovery and professionalism in his approach may have him above schedule, Mitch Lewis’ return from his devastating ACL injury still looks to be mid-year at the earliest.
Though the rotten injury luck Lewis has experienced since his breakout 2023 campaign, in which he kicked 36 goals from 15 games, has some fans doubting his long-term position in an already stacked attack, the accuracy, aerial presence and structure the key forward provides would no doubt take the team to even greater heights.
Realistically, it may take a few games for Lewis and the other members of the forward line, particularly talls Mabior Chol, Calsher Dear and Jack Gunston, to gel, however once this happens, expect multiple games of big goalkicking hauls from the 26 year-old.
6. Hawthorn are recognised with five 44-man All Australian squad members: Will Day, James Sicily, Jai Newcombe, Nick Watson, Dylan Moore.
– Ollie Tisbury
Coming off a season that saw Dylan Moore, James Sicily and Massimo D’Ambrosio nominated into the 44-man squad, with Moore ultimately being recognised as a member of the final 22, a predicted five squad of 44 representatives in 2025 may be somewhat conservative. However factors like voter fatigue and an even spread of contributors may slightly drop the overall number.
Though players such as 2024 representative Massimo D’Ambrosio, Connor MacDonald, Karl Amon, Jack Scrimshaw, Jack Ginnivan and Lloyd Meek are all other potential candidates to be recognised for this honour based on their 2024 form, the hand-picked five of Day, Newcombe, Sicily, Watson and Moore reflect the absolute top-end of Hawthorn’s list.
7. Changkouth Jiath recaptures his 2021 form, mostly as a winger, and finishes Top 10 in the Best & Fairest.
– Ollie Tisbury
Though communication out of clubs throughout each year’s preseason can often become quite scattered, details surrounding the form and fitness of Changkuoth Jiath from fans, media representatives and neutral observers all share a common tone; excitement.
After dealing with frustratingly frequent soft-tissue injuries and a subsequent inability to develop consistent form, Jiath’s role within the team has become somewhat unpredictable. However the defender/winger has obviously regained his confidence both in the air and with ball in hand this offseason, something that, combined with his athletic and aerobic gifts that have been on full display, has me predicting “CJ” to nail down a 70/30 split between the wing and defence in 2025, where his linebreaking speed, intercepting nous and precise kicking will be on full display.
Furthermore, I believe that this newfound confidence in his body and position in the team will ultimately net a career-best finish in the best and fairest, and career-best year overall, from the often forgotten star.
8. Hawthorn’s dynamic forward line has the team at #1 for scoring competition wide come the end of 2025.
– Ollie Tisbury
Before the 2024 season, questions were asked about the Hawks’ ability to consistently kick a winning score, doubts that were further compounded by star forward Mitch Lewis’ numerous injury woes.
However by the end of a campaign that netted Hawthorn its first finals win since the 2015 premiership, it was clear that a young, dynamic attack led by a fleet of small forwards such as Dylan Moore, Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson and Connor MacDonald may be the new formula to a lethal offence. Ranked #4 for total goals and #7 for scores/inside-50 by seasons end, but #1 in both categories in the last ten games of 2024, the likelihood that this strength becomes even more pronounced is extreme.
Based on the assumed development of this previously mentioned small-forward crop (who have an average age of 22) as well as 19 year-old key forward Calsher Dear, alongside the AFL experience and goalkicking pedigree provided by Mabior Chol, Jack Gunston and Luke Bruest, it wouldn’t be crazy to suggest that the scoring potency exhibited in the back half of 2024 is able to be maintained and even heightened from the word go come 2025.
Additionally, this projected reality is further boosted by the potential return of Mitch Lewis and predicted injection of even more firepower from at least one of Blake Hardwick, Josh Weddle, James Sicily, Jasper Scaife or even Josh Battle.
9. Cody Anderson and/or Matt Hill have standout debuts, leaving fans salivating for more.
– Rebecca Connell
Having watched a 17 year-old Cody Anderson debut with Box Hill back in 2024 where he put on a show in the midfield and kicked a goal, there is little that could convince me that the kid is not going to see some time at AFL level in 2025. The jump from VFL to AFL may be a shock initially, but the Beast from the East has proven he can rub shoulders with the big boys and I have little doubt he’ll have a taste of senior footy in 2025.
When he does, he’ll turn heads and leave spectators wanting more. However, the Hawks stacked line up will mean that he will have to share the limelight with other players, likely as a permanent forward, as he develops his craft.
Meanwhile, an opportunity will arise for Matt Hill, whose speed, size, and rugby background could prove useful at either end of the ground. Like Anderson, spectators will be smitten with the young man’s talent and athletic gifts, but will have to wait for further opportunities to manifest thanks again to the recruitments spectacular work shoring up our squad.
10. Battle is the surprise key-position forward Hawthorn has up their sleeve, while Weddle acts as a wildcard forward; ultimately leaving opponents at a loss at how to respond.
– Rebecca Connell
Numerous Hawks fans have expressed concern about the forward line since the announcement of Calsher Dear’s back injury and Mitchell Lewis’ ongoing injury woes. While the extent of those injuries remain to be seen, many seem to have forgotten the weapons Sam Mitchell has up his sleeve, particularly in Josh Battle and Josh Weddle (the two Josh’s if you like).
Battle is an established swingman, with a proven track record up forward. One could rely on the 26 year-old to present, hold his own, and slot many a goal when called upon to. Once Mitchell combines Battle’s forward acumen with the likes of Weddle, Chol, and our mosquito fleet, our opponents defenders will most definitely have their work cut out for them.
Not to mention the potential for other swingmen in Sicily and Hardwick to make their presences known, the proven experience of Jack Gunston and Luke Bruest both on and off the field, and the untapped talent of Jasper Scaife, who simply needs the right guidance and confidence boost to take his game to the next level and break out in the seniors.
Meanwhile, Weddle has proven his skills across the ground, but his size and mobility up forward could be a match winner as well. Just about every time Weddle waddled up forward in 2024, he made some kind of impact on the scoreboard.
The combination of the two in our forward line could be the thing of nightmares for the rest of the competition.
