Five players you are big on for 2025

[Ned Ryerson]

The only player I am big on is Nick Watson - by 1cm. The rest of them are all much bigger than me.

 

[Mississippi]

Mackenzie
Watson
Mackenzie
Weddle
Mackenzie

(apologies to Dear and Macdonald)

 

[Simon Crawshay]

1) Weddle - plonk him at CHF & watch him channel Dermie
2) Day - would have been in a prelim if he could have finished the year
3) Watson - this kid could be anything - how exciting was he in the last few weeks
4) Newk - he is ready to take on anything & finish top 5 in the Brownlow
5) Lewis - the missing link - if he can came back & make an impact we get to a prelim

That's a real Blue Chip portfolio of players

I agree on Lewis, surely the bloke is due some luck and can get a decent run at it.

 

[Lord Lloyd]

How the Hell do you pick just 5?!
Our depth is incredible and I could easily pick 10-15 but here goes.

1. Jai Newcombe - looks like he is ready to tear games apart this year. I think the connection between him and Meeky at centre bounces and stoppages will be key for us this year.
2. Connor Mac - has looked classy and like he belonged from his first game but can see an increase in output like Ginni had last year.
3. Josh Weddle - doesn’t have to play on the big guys now. Given room to run could do anything. Don’t see him as a forward, more Blakey like role.
4. Finn Maguiness - like Harry Morrison I think we underrate him. More than just a tagger, can become a valuable part of our midfield rotation.
5. Cam McKenzie - I believe his injury at the end of last year hurt us a lot. Will be fitter and better again this year.

 

[MazHawk]

5. Cam McKenzie - I believe his injury at the end of last year hurt us a lot. Will be fitter and better again this year.

Not just us but it hurt him a lot in that he was starting to play some really good football only to be watching his team play finals from the sidelines due to his injury.
Perhaps though that injury may have been the best thing for him as he's tracking beautifully this pre-season.

I had him as one of my five when I first posted but if I had to pick a single player I'm big on - biggest on - it would be Mackenzie this year.

 

[Beachy]

What a cool year ahead.

1) Sicily- playing either forward or as the genuine 3rd back. There is now enough talent around so that his kicking could destroy teams and with so many options like Amon, scrim and jars screaming out of the backline it could be very scary for opposition teams.

2) Nash who balances out the highly skilled mids but his physically at the ball and literally smashes peoples in tackles will get rewarded and recognised. Just gets to terrorise opposition mids.

3) Day, seriously our best player and with a little luck will show the composition how good this kid really is.

4) cmac, the connector and building a seriously good tank. The flair to take the game one but will start to burn opposition players.

5) jars - is developing into the heart and soul of the team with seriously good footy. Time to shine



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[Rowie6]

Shammy, McCabe and CJ I like it

Young Seamus had a down year in 2024 but geez he showed a fair bit in 2023. Be great to see him back to his best off half back (he will find it hard to crack a spot in our loaded backline though).

Hopefully he can get back to that because have Shammy CJ and perhaps Weddle in the back half at there speedy best would be such a weapon!


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[Malik90]

1. Will Day
2. Josh Weddle
3. Massimo D’Ambrosio
4. Lloyd Meek
5. Cam Mackenzie

 

[Bruno Oresar]

1. Sicily. IMO our best player and is in the top 10 best players in the league. This guy could go another gear in 2025 now that he is freed up by Barass and Battle.
2. Weddle. He is an absolute unit and is on the cusp of becoming an all time Hawks great.
2. Battle. Together with Barrass frees up Sicily and Weddle to play more destructive and creative utility roles further up the field.
3. Barass. Together with Battle frees up Sicily and Weddle to play more ……… see above
4. Watson. X factor excitement from the goal kicking Leprechaun. Hopefully leads our forward line to a pot of gold.

Go Hawks. We’re back baby!!!

 

[BaliHawk]

This is a great topic.
My 5 are made up mainly unknowns who have arrived with little fanfare yet much much promise and 1 who has blown my head off in his 1 season to date.
1. Hill - was sort after by a number of clubs and chose the Hawks, has good footy blood lines. Big watch.
2. McCabe - athletic and competitive, stay healthy, has great footy smarts.
3. Scaife - built like the proverbial, kicks like a mule, showed enough at BHH to get a chance - grab it with both hands
2. Ramsden - growth, time - has what it takes, need to see if he has it at the top level, give him a block of games to prove it.
1. Dear - could be the next super star forward, can’t wait to see his progress in 2025, injury setback shouldn’t stop this and is a natural player with unbelievable upside.


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[Gene Simmons]

I really hope that Ward can cement his spot in the team in 2025, otherwise I feel like we coould have another DGB outcome...

 

[kazzooka]

I really hope that Ward can cement his spot in the team in 2025, otherwise I feel like we coould have another DGB outcome...

Ward will be okay, he's shown that he is clearly above VFL and is capable at AFL level. Best game of his career was elimination final at game 41 is season 3.

He's in the top 25 if everyone is fit which is rare. Should play many games in 2025 And could see him shoot up like many players do when they hit 50 games. His ability to play inside and outside means he can play wing or inside mid.

He won't be like DGB, he will play 200 games AFL games, if he doesn't break into Hawthorn 22 there's a dozen sides that he plays in every week.

I currently rank our inside Midfield as:

Day
Newcombe
Worple
Nash
Mackenzie
Ward
Maginness
Hustwaite

5 of those play every week.

Wing I rank as (excluding those who didn't play wing in 2024 but have in past like Amon, or may in future Weddle).
Dambrossio
Morrison
Jiath
Ward
Maginness

2 of these play every week sometimes 3.

So he is right on the cusp so he just needs to be in better form or fitness than 1 of the 7 above him to get in the side. He's been close to Mackenzie so far, And I honestly think both Cam and Josh can become better players than Worpel and Nash.

 

[tommyk72]

Ward will be okay, he's shown that he is clearly above VFL and is capable at AFL level. Best game of his career was elimination final at game 41 is season 3.

He's in the top 25 if everyone is fit which is rare. Should play many games in 2025 And could see him shoot up like many players do when they hit 50 games. His ability to play inside and outside means he can play wing or inside mid.

He won't be like DGB, he will play 200 games AFL games, if he doesn't break into Hawthorn 22 there's a dozen sides that he plays in every week.

I currently rank our inside Midfield as:

Day
Newcombe
Worple
Nash
Mackenzie
Ward
Maginness
Hustwaite

5 of those play every week.

Wing I rank as (excluding those who didn't play wing in 2024 but have in past like Amon, or may in future Weddle).
Dambrossio
Morrison
Jiath
Ward
Maginness

2 of these play every week sometimes 3.

So he is right on the cusp so he just needs to be in better form or fitness than 1 of the 7 above him to get in the side. He's been close to Mackenzie so far, And I honestly think both Cam and Josh can become better players than Worpel and Nash.

This is a great post and outlines Ward's value nicely. He's a great bench player as he can easily slot into rotations for a number of positions on the ground. Will be interesting to see how he's deployed in 2025, and whether these two positions are enough, or whether he's asked to work on his ability to play on a HB/HFF.

 

[threesixpio]

I really hope that Ward can cement his spot in the team in 2025, otherwise I feel like we coould have another DGB outcome...

 

[fairdinks]

Ward will be okay, he's shown that he is clearly above VFL and is capable at AFL level. Best game of his career was elimination final at game 41 is season 3.

He's in the top 25 if everyone is fit which is rare. Should play many games in 2025 And could see him shoot up like many players do when they hit 50 games. His ability to play inside and outside means he can play wing or inside mid.

He won't be like DGB, he will play 200 games AFL games, if he doesn't break into Hawthorn 22 there's a dozen sides that he plays in every week.

I currently rank our inside Midfield as:

Day
Newcombe
Worple
Nash
Mackenzie
Ward
Maginness
Hustwaite

5 of those play every week.

Wing I rank as (excluding those who didn't play wing in 2024 but have in past like Amon, or may in future Weddle).
Dambrossio
Morrison
Jiath
Ward
Maginness

2 of these play every week sometimes 3.

So he is right on the cusp so he just needs to be in better form or fitness than 1 of the 7 above him to get in the side. He's been close to Mackenzie so far, And I honestly think both Cam and Josh can become better players than Worpel and Nash.

Great post Kaz.

If Ward becomes a better player than Worpel (Hawthorn Crimmins Medallist), I'll be very happy indeed. That is a high level to attain and I don't necessarily disagree with you.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

The five key players for me in 2025 are based on what it will take for us to lift the Premiership Cup.

Jai Newcombe
strong start to the year, top 3 in Brownlow
significant goal contribution as a resting forward (Resting from the square and taking more of those Dunstall-like grabs), and
Providing physical protection when opposition targets the younger types

Cam Mackenzie
Genuine breakout year in midfield with full trust from the coaches to use him in the guts when the pressure is its hottest
Reliable and impactful 25+ possessions every week

Nick Watson
40+ goals
Terrorising defenders

Josh Battle
Strong and reliable year at CHB
Consistently getting the job done and allowing the coaches to use Sicily in match winning roles

Mitch Lewis
Returns from injury in a very impactful manner.
30+ goals from a restricted late start to the season