Taking the temperature of the Hawks
Reflecting on 2025 and pondering what comes next.
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As the Hawks hit the bye and take a well-earned breather, it's the perfect time to pause and reflect on a season that’s been anything but predictable. From stirring wins to frustrating near misses, Hawthorn’s 2025 campaign has at times showcased the grit, growth and glimpses of greatness fans have been craving, with a fair amount of frustration mixed in.
With a young core finding its voice and some surprise performers stepping up, there’s plenty to dissect and even more to look forward to. In this mid-season check-in, the Hawks Insiders take stock of where we’ve come from, who’s flying under the radar, and what the road ahead might hold — including the moves the club could make to climb even higher.
One game from 2025 you’ll replay over the bye weekend?
BRAD KLIBANSKY: The first half against Port Adelaide….only joking! Probably the Bulldogs game from a few weeks ago. In my opinion that was our best performance of the season. The reality is, we haven’t seen too many four quarter performances this season.
SIMON MORAWETZ: Essendon, Round 1. Admittedly, the pool of rewatchable games we’ve had so far is pretty shallow, but beating the Bombers is always very satisfying and to have the game in a comfortable position from before quarter time makes it all the more enjoyable.
MICK COWAN: If I have to watch a game from this season, it will be with an arm twisted, as there isn't one that comes to mind as a great game to sit back and reflect on, it will be the Giants' game purely as they are likely to be a fellow finalist.
NAT MARTIN: The Dogs game. Backs to the wall against a team that I think is pretty good, the desire to hunt them from the get go was so good to watch. Probably apart from Sydney in OR the only time we played four quarters, too. Our best win.
ASHLEY BROWNE: To be honest, the Kayo Mini’s might make for better viewing because there hasn’t been a four-quarter performance all year, certainly not like last year’s exhilarating performances as the Hawks surged up the ladder. The first half against Sydney, first quarter against Essendon, middle two quarters against GWS and the start against the Dogs have been the highlights.
DANNY PRINS: It has to be the Bulldogs game for me. I do love a win against the Bombers, so I might flick that one on too, but the Dogs win had so much heart and some incredibly intensity that we haven’t always seen so far this season.
Who has improved the most?
BK: Josh Ward. Ward has been one of the most improved players in the AFL this season. He’s become a crucial member of our midfield after taking his game to another level. His gut running is great to watch each week. A special mention to Harry Morrison, who’s having a consistent year on the wing.
SM: Josh Ward is our most improved and it’s not remotely close. CJ has had some good games but has seemed to thrive as a sub option.
MC: On consistency - Harry Morrison has reduced the difference between his best and worst performances continuing from his 2024 form. On performance - Josh Ward having started out of the team has taken his chances with the injuries to other midfielders to play a strong role in the team.
NM: Josh Ward. I had enormous doubts - but he’s an important part of our midfield rotation now, and the game no longer looks too fast for him. Deserves his flowers.
AB: Does Jack Gunston count? If not, Josh Ward for all the reasons stated above.
DP: The obvious answer is HI’s own Josh Ward, who has been fantastic in a breakout season. But I’m going to go with his draft mate, Sam Butler who’s improvement is more going from an injured small forward who was no where near playing for Hawthorn to inside midfielder making a difference to a stagnant and stale Hawthorn midfield in his fifth game as a midfielder at any level in 5 years.
Whose form has you worried?
BK: Cam Mackenzie - every Hawthorn supporter would have hoped and believed Mackenzie would take a big step in 2025. Unfortunately due to form and injury that has not happened and he finds himself in the VFL. With Worpel set to return after the bye and Day in the last month of the season, Mackenzie will struggle to get back into the “best 22”, especially if Sam Butler continues to play well.
SM: It’s not purely a result of form, but I don’t see how Jack Scrimshaw gets back into the team. Our backline has been too top-heavy with all of Barrass, Battle, Sicily, Weddle, and Scrim. We’ve been so much more balanced structurally in the last couple of games. Sicily has to come back in, I don’t know that there’s a place for Scrimshaw as all.
MC: Leaving aside any players who've been injured, Massimo D'Ambrosio hasn't been able to replicate the form that had in him discussions for All-Australian selection this time last year. As to whether it is second year blues or the opposition putting time into him, it is hard to say. My main concern is his kicking efficiency, being his strength, that has dropped from 73 per cent to 65 per cent this year and has only been above 70 per cent in 5 games this year.
NM: Jack Scrimshaw. Was an absolutely critical part of our side last year but the additions of Battle and Barrass haven’t helped him at all, and his lack of continuity with concussion (twice) is a bit of a concern. It is genuinely going to be challenging, not impossible however, for him to find a way back in.
AB: Jack Scrimshaw, Cam Mackenzie and Mass D’Ambrosio to varying degrees. And Dylan Moore until a fortnight ago.
DP: The Captain? I know he’s been carrying a hip area concern and the last couple of weeks off will help no doubt, but some of his early season form (including kicking execution and decision making) was levels down on what he produced last season, and what the Hawks need him to produce in order to be competitive at the pointy end of the season. Let’s hope he returns strong after the bye.
Whiteboard move you’d like Sammy to make?
BK: Nick Watson into the midfield - We saw it happen against the Crows in Tassie and it was one of the key reasons we got back into the game. Unfortunately, without Day, our midfield is bottom four in the AFL. It lacks “x-factor” and pace. The Wizard offers both. It doesn’t have to be all game, but a few times a quarter would be worth looking at.
SM: would like Sicily to start forward. He gets thrown forward when we’re behind and we need a goal, and it almost always works. Why wait until we’re behind? Particularly in light of the backline structure addressed in my last answer. While we’re at the whiteboard, if you could superglue Hardwick’s magnet into the backline, that’d be great.
MC: Keep Butler in the team, aside from managing his workload coming back from injury, as his pace around the contest is a point of difference he brings to it. Move not yet tried - Serong as another option for the wing rotation with his height and running endurance provides a different option to Morrison and D'Ambrosio, or Mackenzie.
NM: Josh Weddle to attend some centre bounces. Has the physicality, athleticism and power to really make a difference in there.
AB: One of Sam Butler or Nick Watson in the middle at all times, at least until Will Day returns.
DP: There are two for me. Keep Sam Butler in the team for the reasons Mick mentioned above. His pace inside is a key point of difference to what the Hawks have at the moment. Second, please get Calsher Dear or Mitch Lewis in the team regardless of form. Max Ramsden showed how important another key forward is for the Hawks setup, and both Lewis and Dear are levels on Ramsden.
Butters, Reid, Flanders, Allen. Choose one and why?
BK: Zak Butters!! Make it happen Mark Mackenzie and Roughy! Even with a fit Will Day, I don’t think our midfield is good enough to win the premiership. Butters. Day and Newcombe! Yes, please.
SM: For mine, it has to be a midfielder. It’s the pivotal area of the ground and one we need an uplift in. Although Harley has started to turn my head in the last month or so, I’m choosing Butters. He comes readymade, already one of the premier contested ball/clearance players going around. I’m sure a lot of people will talk about Harley’s upside here, and that’s fair. Who knows, he may even go on to become the next Zak Butters.
MC: Butters - with his pace and ball use as well as toughness in the contest plus having played 120+ games and 25 years of age, there is no need to work on development, he would immediately complement tour needs over the next four to five years.
NM: Zak Butters. Is a known commodity, a two-time All-Australian coming into the prime of his career at only age 25 (by the start of next year) and makes us better straight away for 2026. Has the mix of inside and outside that we currently lack in a lot of our inside mids. I also absolutely love his mongrel and competitiveness.
AB: Butters makes Hawthorn a flag contender. However, those who make their living writing about list management reckon Reid and Hawthorn might be happening.
DP: Again, the super obvious one is Zak Butters. He is already elite and would change Hawthorn immediately. I’m going to buck the trend and go with Harley Reid, he has the potential to be generational, and I think in the right environment, we’re talking about him as a top 3-5 midfielder in the competition in the next 3 years. If I’m taking one of these players, it’s not just for next year, it’s for the next ten years, so Reid please.
One Hawk you expect to see in other colours next year?
BK: Jai Serong- unfortunately for Serong, the Hawk’s are stacked down back. Whilst, we have seen play on the wing recently at VFL level, I believe he can be a quality AFL defender and will be at another club in 2026 and beyond.
SM: Henry Hustwaite. He is unlikely to feature for us next year, particularly if we recruit a big name mid in the offseason. We’ve given him a crack this year but he hasn’t quite cut it. But while I think he’s probably run his race as a Hawk, he’s good enough for another club to take a punt on.
MC: For his own career progression, although under contract, Hustwaite should look for a trade. Out of contract - Frost will be elsewhere next year.
NM: The obvious two for me are Henry Hustwaite and Sam Frost.
AB: Henry Hustwaite and Jai Serong.
DP: Take your pick between Jai Serong, Henry Hustwaite (he will be looking at what Ned Long is doing at Collingwood and thinking, hello!) and one of Ned Reeves or Max Ramsden. Ruckmen always have currency, and if the Hawks are smart, they will move Reeves on and allow Ramsden to develop unhindered at Box Hill and be the clear cut #2 behind Meek.
How many wins for the rest of the home and away season?
BK: Five to finish with 14 and unfortunately miss out on a top four spot.
SM: Six.
MC: Minimum six games.
NM: Six. We will finish 15. Beat North, Saints, Port, Carlton, Melbourne - and we will win one of Freo/Pies/Crows/Lions.
AB: Six. The Collingwood and Adelaide games are in play if Will Day and Mitch Lewis are fit and firing.
DP: 6 more wins for mine, finishing with a total of 15. Echo what Nat has said above.
What’s a pass mark for Hawthorn from here?
BK: There will be a lot of supporters who think we need to make a preliminary after we saw last season. Unfortunately I can’t see that happening in 2025, unless we see a massive improvement in the back half of the season. I think winning a final like last season would be a pass mark and a good result.
SM: Win a final.
MC: Playing finals and winning at least one.
NM: A pass mark is winning a final, we make a prelim even better. I don’t think we can win it as it stands, our mids against the really good sides still worry me. One A Grader short.
AB: Top six would be great, but I have faith (perhaps foolish) that the Hawks can beat Collingwood or Geelong in an MCG final and then, who knows?
DP: If we can win a final, it will be a pass mark for me. This team is trending in the right direction, but does need another shot in the arm if it wants to compete for a Premiership. You’re the missing piece Harley.
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I’ve been screaming on social media to throw Weddle into the guts ever since the end of the 2024 season!
Wedds has all the skills, strength, height and cardio to do what Will Day did a few years ago, only with a stronger more durable body and bigger tank.
Josh has already played 2nd Ruck and torn the opposition apart, so imagine what he can do running through the midfield unencumbered with the ruck duties.🤯
This would also solve another problem of how do we fit Scrimshaw in the D50, with Weddle going into the middle, a spot then opens for Scrimma, so out defensive unit isn’t top heavy and both play very similar roles and are a similar height (Josh 191cm/Jack 194cm), so you’re replacing a like for like!
Weddle in the guts would give us another elite midfielder that we desperately need to go further up the ladder and win more finals, and we can do it this season, without requiring to trade in a Butters (who I personally love and would sell the farm to get!)…
This was a great read thank you HI, something to cling onto during this bye round.
In terms of the temperature check, we're going ok, aside from the 5 goal loss to the Lions and the 9 goal loss to Collingwood we've been in every game and the losses to Geelong and Collingwood were highly commendable. In the losses to Lions and Collingwood, we were not able to sustain any pressure on the opposition and were on world record pace for absolute clangers - both of which can be fixed. Personnel wise, we also have some upside - hopefully Day returns and Sicily can find something near his best, both of which have the capacity to really lift our overall quality. We do have a tough fixture, playing the top four
One of the things about having a bye, is that it gives time to think! Watching our game against Adelaide and the aerial mismatch that Curtin was able to create, particularly inside 50, raised an interesting point. Do we have someone on our list who could play that role? Aside from Curtin, only Gelong with Blicavs and Dempsey (who plays tall) have a tall wingman, which makes such a player a genuine threat and real point of difference. Perhaps the obvious candidate is Josh Weddle, but his form and growth over these past two games playing almost exclusively as a utility defender has been outstanding. He's just passed 50 games and there's a good case for playing him predominantly in that role for the remainder of season 2025.
Recently, Jai Serong has spent considerable time playing on a wing with Box Hill and has acquitted himself well. The other player that may be an option as a tall wingman is Jack Scrimshaw. With the recruitment of Battle, the pending return of Sicily and both Weddle and Hardwick likely to be played largely as permanent defenders, Scrim has become somewhat surplus to requirements. Could he be repurposed as a tall wingman? Yes, he’d have to ‘learn the role’, but with his aerial ability, general mobility and exceptional field kicking, he has the attributes to become a unique and valuable player on one of our wings.
Butters is an amazing player and watching Melbourne try ad tag him last week showed just how hard he is to stop. One thing that worries me about Butters is his body and the way he plays. While there is now a trend to players playing for longer, especially those players for which leg speed is not an issue, it's not unforeseeable that he could hit 30 and be banged up.
There's a question that I'd like to pose to the HI crew - what would you do with James Worpel? We would probably receive a second-round pick, which could possibly be packaged with our existing second round pick to acquire a first round pick, thus giving two first round picks at this year's draft. With Butler developing as a midfielder, Mackenzie playing twos and Day still to return, it does feel as though we could cover his departure. The big caveat is having a high degree of confidence in Will Day's longevity. Without Worps we'd have Newcombe, Day, Butler, Ward, Mackenzie and Nash as our 6 mids, with Moore and possibly Watson for cameo roles. Longer term, I like Chris's post below about Weddle as a midfielder, but you'd want him to have a pre-season learning that role first.