Hawthorn’s name up in lights

The known knows and plenty of unknowns as the AFL finalises the release of the 2024 schedule.

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If you believe the hype - with Kane Cornes leading the way - Hawthorn shapes as the team everyone wants to watch in 2025.

After years off Broadway, it will be the Hawks who will join the Blues, Pies, Lions and Swans as the night-time specialists.

There are suggestions the League wants to release the fixture earlier than it has for a few years so as Josh Bowler and his scheduling team at the AFL go about their work, here’s a stab at how it might look for the Hawks in 2025.

PRIME TIME DARLINGS

Every year the AFL takes a punt on a club on the rise and backs them in for a stack of prime-time fixtures. In 2024, perhaps through a sense of guilt, it was Adelaide. In 2025, it will be Hawthorn.

The Hawks tick every box. A top-six club that plays a fast and attractive brand of footy and with a stack of personalities.

Sic, Ginni, the Wiz, CJ, the Chols Royce, Frosty, big Meeky, the celes…there are endless personalities and countless reasons why Channel Seven and Fox Footy (who will produce their own prime-time games) will demanding plenty of prime-time Hawthorn.

SO WHEN AND HOW MANY?

What with 23 rounds over 25 weeks, there are a lot of Friday nights to fill. The big uncertainty is Thursday nights. The fans want it every week, whereas the AFL is less keen because it doesn’t want to have to showcase the poorer teams. There will be more than last year, but perhaps not a full season’s worth.

But the Hawks figure to appear prominently in both times slots and you would think there will be a few Saturday twilight and Saturday nights thrown in as well. Hawthorn might not be kicking the red Sherrin around nearly as much in 2025.

OPENING ROUND?

The AFL likely won’t waste much time scheduling the Hawks in prime-time.

The League will want marquee attractions to head north to start the season and there is every chance Hawthorn will face one of Brisbane, Sydney or GWS on the road during what is the Labor Day long weekend in Victoria.

If I was a betting man, it might be the Lions as they unfurl their premiership flag.

According to the futures markets (two gambling references, sorry Daz!) Hawthorn and Brisbane are the two premiership favourites for 2025, so why not get them to start the season. Add to it that the Hawks haven’t played the Lions at the Gabba since 2019 - the last year they lost to them - it’s almost a no-brainer.

But a game against GWS - after the two thrillers last year - would also be an easy sell.

AND ROUND 1?

Should be Essendon, should be Hawthorn’s home game and should be a Friday night at the MCG.

AREN’T THE HAWKS CELEBRATING 100 YEARS IN THE AFL?

Yes and so are the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne. The Hawks and the Dogs will play their milestone games at the MCG and likely early in the season when the weather is good.

Both clubs have requested prime time slots against big clubs to mark the occasion.

Look for Carlton or Collingwood to be the Hawks hand-picked opponent on what will be a special night.

APRIL WILL BE CHOCKERS

In addition to the likely milestone game (and probably a bye weekend if they play in Opening Round), there will be the trip to Adelaide for Gather Round followed - probably - by Easter Monday against the Cats.

We say ‘probably’ because it was announced recently that the Cats will have 10 home game at Pork Barrel… ahem, GMHBA Stadium next year so if they play the Hawks on Easter Monday at the MCG that would be their one home game there for the year.

They may ask for it to be Collingwood or Carlton instead.

But given Hawthorn’s resurgence, the Cats would be crazy not to play the Hawks on Easter Monday as tradition dictates because if the weather holds up (this year we had the lightning delay) they should get at least 75,000 there and make loads of cash in the process.

HOW MANY MCG GAMES?

Probably the usual nine - six home and three away - although given Hawthorn’s rise in fortunes, a few of their fellow MCG clubs might request to play the Hawks as a home game knowing that a large crowd will likely come.

Sadly, the Marvel Stadium home game is with us for good, but on the positive side, Hawthorn went 3-0 there last season.

A TASSIE THOUGHT BUBBLE

Four games in Tassie as usual as the deal plays out its last few years.

But what about a Friday night game? As mentioned, the Hawks will be a major box office draw but with Tassie’s own team now in the planning stages, why not stage a Friday night game down there see how it works?

It wouldn’t be against one of the large Victorian clubs but against a club that otherwise wouldn’t draw a large crowd to the MCG for a Hawks home game such as Gold Coast or GWS, which on paper shape as good games, it might not be a bad idea.

Hobart and Canberra have previously staged Friday night footy, so why not Launceston?

If I’m the Devils, I’m making the fixture request on Hawthorn’s behalf. You know, proof of concept and all that.

THE PORT GAME. WHEN WILL THAT BE?

If it’s not the opening game of Gather Round, the AFL aren’t fair dinkum.

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