Autopsy Round 2, 2025: Hawthorn give Carlton the Blues

[Red4]

Think cj is best 22 at half back, digs in there and good aerially, gets lost on a wing. When scrimma comes back I think you push weddle to a wing over Harry, let him use that marking and running ability. Dear comes straight in for Maginess, and worpel for one of ward or mackenzie (both were awesome last night). We are going to be so scary when fully loaded, and I feel like the boys have barely taken it out of second gear this year

 

[extractasam]

Three take-outs on the morning after:

1. Josh Battle is an A-grade star. I saw a stat during the coverage last night that indicated his direct opponent has kicked one goal in our three games so far. Someone compared him to Stratton the other day and that’s spot-on because, like our former No.24, he can lock down on smalls as well as talls, as Papley and Curnow would attest to. I’d go further and suggest Battle is Stratton-Plus because our new No.24 is also brilliant with ball in hand. We’ve got ourselves a veritable FA bargain!
2. This is going to sound harsh - and it very well might be - but I reckon Jai Newcombe, who was brilliant and indeed our best in the trenches, wouldn’t have been too happy with some of his decision-making when he found himself in space. A couple of examples come to mind: A down-the-line bomb from a free that Weitering gobbled up and was probably the first time the Blues star had any impact [were there really no other options infield for Jai?]; and then, when he burnt a 2-on-1 advantage in an open F50 and went for goal instead from 50 out. I’m sure Jai himself would’ve been the first to hold his hand up and acknowledge he holds himself to a far better standard than that. [Actually, upon further reflection, yes, I think I am being a tad harsh on Nuke!]
3. My partner made an observation in the third quarter, when scores will still almost level-pegging, that I’ve been much calmer while watching the Hawks this year than in the past year or two. She’s absolutely right - as usual! I feel serene and cool as a cucumber while watching us in action in 2025. We’ve had bursts of momentum against us in each of the three games so far but at no stage have I ever felt that we were in any trouble. Even though we’ve been far from our best, we’ve ended up relatively comfortable winners - and that, I reckon, should be a really scary prospect for supporters of the other 17 clubs.

The last part I feel. Whenever our opponents have dialled their intensity up, we’ve always managed to go with them and halt momentum a lot better.

 

[MuzzHawk]

Was this in the third quarter when they got a goal through a tunnel ball? Bloke threw it like a long snapper in the NFL

No that was the Cotteril goal in the first quarter, which looked just about a clean spoil.

You’re talking about the Motlop goal in the third - which was barely a free but either way advantage shouldn’t have been allowed because it was only gained by throwing the ball out of the pack. Should definitely have been called back or if you call advantage then you have to call the throw.


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[Bardo State]

Frenchy only played 65% TOG.

Thought he was everywhere.

If he can get his fitness levels up to consistently play at 75-80% watch out.

He's starting to stand up in tackles and marking contests when I expect him to lose posession or get taken out. He's looking a lot stronger this year.

 

[kazzooka]

Jeez, give him a TV show and sack Montagna and King.

Seriously took Jeff White 2 minutes 15 seconds to embarrass everyone in footy media with actual analysis not just the reactionary crap they yap on about.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Jeez, give him a TV show and sack Montagna and King.

Seriously took Jeff White 2 minutes 15 seconds to embarrass everyone in footy media with actual analysis not just the reactionary crap they yap on about.

All night King was like "THEY GOTTA GET CHARLIE CURNOW INTO THE GAME. CRIPPS IS THE ONE TO WATCH"

He can't comment on anyone who isn't in the best 2 or 3 players of each team.

 

[RoughysMullet]

Rewatching the game - big Chol reminding me of Roughy the way he swings around on the left- kicked some important goals at ground level the big fella

 

[MrPremiership]

Jeff has been doing great stuff on X for a long time now. Love watching his stuff

 

[MrPremiership]

Carlton have won only 2 of their last 11 games.

Those wins came against:
West Coast
North Melbourne

 

[MinerBoy]

Where they got the free kicks was costly for us …….. while Carlton fans whinging they got the rough end of the stick blah blah blah.

Ok 29-24 free kicks our way but with 55 more possessions, time in possession etc it’s about right!

A lot of the swing to us came late too as we looked like winning and they made desperate clumsy physical contact and tackles.

 

[MinerBoy]

I'm close to describing McKenzie as 'a revelation'. Was excellent.

I love Worps, he's one of my favourite current players, but we're not missing him as much as I thought we might. And that says nothing about Worps, but says everything about our burgeoning depth.

Definitely missing him a lot. We've been smacked in the middle the past 2 weeks.

The centre clearance stats last night don't feel right compared with the impact from centre clearances.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Amazing seeing my man Duke score the 3 Brownlow votes against Cripps and Walsh. Was absolutely incredible in the final quarter in particular.

Also a big about out to Josh Ward, who is starting to show us why went at pick 7. Likewise Cam Mackenzie.

 

[badgrill]

We might not get any father and sons out of CJ after he bravely smothered the ball with his balls.

that happened RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!!!

 

[Buzz Hawk]

Another really mature performance from the boys last night, that's 3 mature, composed performances in a row.
The development of the team in 12 months has been brilliant. A year ago we would have lost all 3 imo.
Frenchy reminds me a lot of Sammy with that low centre of gravity and the way he arches his back when he runs, always looking at what's ahead of him. He is just blossoming in front of our eyes.
Wardy was excellent too. Weds had a shocker but the kid will be alright.
Hat tip to Mabs, Duke and Battle. Massive games.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I recently saw Jack Riewoldt having a morning coffee and mentoring chat with Charlie Curnow, Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps and some other Carlton dude.
You could tell from the commentary he's wanting these guys to do well

Derm was the same when he was coaching at GWS - you could tell he was barracking for the kids he was helping out. Only natural.

 

[MrPremiership]

We would have smashed them if it was dry. The wet helped make it a contested game which they want, and we still got it done.

It opened up in the 4th and that's where we exposed them and plodding midfield.

9 days off before a huge challenge up next.

 

[The Big Dipper]

Couple of big takeaways for me....

1. We are without doubt the best option for free agents looking for a Melbourne home - Impey, Amon, Chol, Ginni, Meek, D'Ambrosio, Battle, Barass, Frost, Scrimshaw all started their careers elsewhere and are now best 22 at our club. With the possibility of a top 10 pick in this years draft and the ability to trade 2 years worth of future picks we are well positioned to dominate the free agency and trade periods at seasons end again.

2. Opposing teams seem to utilising a man to man defense with both Carlton and Essendon avoiding Zone defense at all costs. Both teams played the man hard suggesting teams believe we don't like the hard stuff. The next 3 weeks will require the Hawks to go to another level of competitiveness, with GWS, Port and the Cats. Hopefully we get to see Sam's game plan evolve to the next level.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

Couple of big takeaways for me....



2. Opposing teams seem to utilising a man to man defense with both Carlton and Essendon avoiding Zone defense at all costs. Both teams played the man hard suggesting teams believe we don't like the hard stuff. The next 3 weeks will require the Hawks to go to another level of competitiveness, with GWS, Port and the Cats. Hopefully we get to see Sam's game plan evolve to the next level.

I think also they trying to limit the effectiveness of D'Ambrosio, Amon, Impey, Day etc.

Basically they're going man on man because they believe our system will beat their system. Man on man is an admission of strategic failure in my view, and an attempt to drag the game back to basics, reduce our strengths rather than enhance theirs.

When they had to win the game last night, D'Ambrosio got off the lease, Day started to win clean clearances. The things that open up the whole ground happened for us. The last three teams have tried the heavyweight slog. It's not an approach that will get them 4-5 goals up. It's an approach that will keep them within 2-3 goals

 

[eldorado]

Beaten by a team coached by an Albanian!!!

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

Thought day crashed in hard in the first half.

 

[The Big Dipper]

I think also they trying to limit the effectiveness of D'Ambrosio, Amon, Impey, Day etc.

Basically they're going man on man because they believe our system will beat their system. Man on man is an admission of strategic failure in my view, and an attempt to drag the game back to basics, reduce our strengths rather than enhance theirs.

When they had to win the game last night, D'Ambrosio got off the lease, Day started to win clean clearances. The things that open up the whole ground happened for us. The last three teams have tried the heavyweight slog. It's not an approach that will get them 4-5 goals up. It's an approach that will keep them within 2-3 goals

Well said. Yes there is a lot of negating of our key ball users going on which in turn leads to other players having to step up - enter Ward, Mackenzie, CJ, Morrison, etc...

 

[Footywizard]

I felt the need to say your club is magnificent. I’m in awe of what you guys have done in such a small time. Good times ahead again. Keep slaying them

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

A lot of the swing to us came late too as we looked like winning and they made desperate clumsy physical contact and tackles.

Most of the free kicks were there, I was laughing at the complete rage and hysteria particularly after the Moore one on the wing. Sure he may have started to go forward in the tackle but at no stage did the Carlton player attempt to turn him onto his side, ump had to pay that clear as day and yet they frothed up like their lunch money from those brown paper bags had been stolen. Newsflash dickheads you still need to perform the tackle correctly.

 

[hawkmang]

Beaten by a team coached by an Albanian!!!

Jeez bit rough, old mate Yze copping strays there haha

 

[Buzz Hawk]

Thought day crashed in hard in the first half.

Yes he did. He is working really hard and is learning to deal with a lot more and closer attention.
Will come out the other side an even better player.