Despite not being an official hitout and both sides missing multiple players tipped to be starting come round 0, Monday’s match simulation against perennial finals contenders Geelong gave Hawks fans a glimpse into what could be on display throughout 2025.
Played over four 30-minute periods in clear conditions, the see-sawing affair saw the Hawks claw back in the second half after a slow start; but ultimately fade late and be defeated 106-86 in front of a respectable crowd at GMHBA stadium.
However as is the case with any preseason match, the importance of the final score paled in comparison to the number of observations which no doubt excited those Hawks fans tuning in.
Midfield Domination
Easily the most striking observation out of Monday’s simulation, Hawthorn’s core midfield brigade of Will Day, Jai Newcombe, James Worpel, Cam Mackenzie and Conor Nash were completely overwhelming across the whole four quarters. Whether it was winning the ball at the coalface, weaving out of traffic and releasing to the outside or impacting forward of the ball, each player would have easily been deemed amongst the best on the ground by anybody watching.
Mackenzie (24 disposals, seven tackles) and Day (19 disposals, two goals) in particular were sublime, as their composure and class was perfectly complimented by both a willingness to tackle and an uncanny ability to avoid being tackled themselves, despite the best efforts of their opposition.
Additional cameos from the likes of Josh Ward, Connor MacDonald, Dylan Moore, Henry Hustwaite and Finn Maginness further exemplified the flexibility and potency of Sam Mitchell’s engine room.
Impressive Youngsters
Despite the prediction that breaking into Hawthorn’s side (bar injury) could be more difficult than facilitating trade deals between China and America, the performance of multiple youngsters on Monday will have selectors thinking long and hard about the team they bring to Sydney come Round 0.
Despite being limited to just under half a match, 19 year-old defender Bodie Ryan certainly left nothing in the tank as he racked up multiple intercept possessions, used the ball flawlessly and displayed the intensity and competitiveness he displayed at VFL level in 2024. A strong contested mark at true centre half-back and a bone-crushing tackle on the wing (which he was rewarded with a free-kick for) during Q3 defined a rock-solid showing for Ryan.
Will McCabe, who has made the switch from defense to attack so far this season, was also able to display glimpses of his undeniable talent in even more limited match time. Only first being sighted to start the fourth term, McCabe immediately presented as a lead-up option by taking a strong chest mark in front of All-Australian defender Tom Stewart. The youngster was able to take multiple other strong contested marks, and if not for some wayward left-foot kicking, would have finished the game with at least one, if not multiple, goals.
Impressive passages of play from Bailey McDonald, who used his blistering speed on multiple occasions to rebound from defense, and Henry Hustwaite, who was immediately injected into the centre bounce to start Q4 and equally as quickly racked up eight disposals, as well as Noah Mraz and Jasper Scaife, also exhibited the depth of young talent offered by Hawthorn.
The Fickle Nature of Football
Just nine days after putting together an eye-catching four goal performance during an intra-club, Jack Ginnivan struggled to impact both on the scoreboard and around the ground.
Though its far from something that should concern fans or coaches alike, Ginnivan’s performance that was a complete contrast to what has been a brilliant preseason was simply a reminder of just how difficult consistent brilliance at the top-level can be, especially for a player still only 22.
This concept, though to a lesser extent, could also be applied to Josh Weddle, who despite showing flashes of both athletic and footballing brilliance around the ground, was unable to uphold the lofty standard he has set for himself across the preseason.
Forward Flexibility
According to experts, beginning season 2025 without their two primary key-forward targets in Calsher Dear and Mitch Lewis (who are both on the road back from respective injuries) looms as perhaps the only weakness in the Hawks lineup, however the opportunity their absence may provide others was on full display down the highway at GMHBA stadium.
Despite goals from recognised forwards Jack Gunston (one), Mabior Chol (two), Max Ramsden (one) and Blake Hardwick (one), the majority of scoreboard impact throughout Monday’s match came from less predictable sources.
Jai Newcombe, Josh Weddle, Ned Reeves and Harry Morrison were all able to trouble the scorers with singular goals, however it was Will Day and Finn Magginess, who both finished with two goals (both of which were kicked in a single quarter), that impressed the most.
Day (four scoring shots, two goal assists) and Maginness, sporting his new number 20, all but confirmed their rumoured positional tweaks, as the latter played majority of his game across half-forward, whilst the mercurial Day split his time roughly 70/30 between the forward line and the midfield; highlighted by attending only 29% of all centre bounces. James Sicily (20 disposals, eight marks) was also swung forward in the second half to replace the rested Gunston, illustrating Sam Mitchell’s willingness to utilise the captain’s talent at either end depending on the state of the game.
Ultimately, this brilliantly unpredictable nature of Hawthorn’s scoring avenues is already emerging as a significant silver lining to what at first seemed as rotten injury luck, and something that will perfectly compliment the structure that Dear and Lewis’ return will provide.
Additionally, the absence of walk-up starters Massimo D’Ambrosio, Changkouth Jiath, Tom Barrass, Nick Watson and Luke Bruest should compound this optimism, as all five are tipped to be available next Thursday when Hawthorn take on the Bulldogs on a more familiar turf in Tasmania.
Despite the final score, Monday afternoon’s hitout against an equally strong opposition was extremely promising, especially considering the lack of injury concerns out of the match. Promising showings from multiple young Hawks and complete dominance from many established stars should have this performance deemed a success by coaches and fans alike.
