Prediction Who will be better in 2025? Carlton or Hawthorn

[CatToTheFuture]

Fingers crossed whichever finishes 9th

In all seriousness, Carlton can't fall over again surely

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Fingers crossed whichever finishes 9th

In all seriousness, Carlton can't fall over again surely

You underestimate Carltons ability to break their own supporters hearts

 

[carlton_99]

• Worst small forwards in the league.
• A defence that is held together by one player.
• A midfield that is entirely dependent on one player.
• No good players outside of our top 5.

How did we even manage to win a game in 2024?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

You underestimate Carltons ability to break their own supporters hearts

Tides change in time

 

[Sinjin Smith]

I'll give it a crack, only my perspective:

Cripps
Weitering
Curnow
Newman
Saad
McKay
Walsh
TDK (yep on limited form)
Acres
Fogarty
Hewett
Pitto
Cerra (got a lot to prove)

Okay Fadge (yes I went 14) and commented where appropriate. Go nuts on dissecting it.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I like Newcombe and especially Day and think they are becoming stars of the competition but over the last two years Walsh has still been the better player. We saw in his 2023 finals series despite significant injuries what impact he has and imo Day/Newcombe have not reached that to date.

Newcombes backend of 2024 and finals series is as good if not better than anything Walsh has done.

His averages in the last 5 games of 2024

6.8 coaches votes pg / 34 over 5 games
31.4 disposals @ 83%
13 cp
5.2 inside 50s
6.8 clearances
6 marks
0.6 goals
1.8 goal assists (1st amg mids)
10.6 score involvements (1st)
3.6 tackles

And his averages of the last 5 home and away season games

29 disposals @ 82% DE
13 contested
8.5 clearances (5 CL)
1 goal a game
1.6 goal assists
9.2 score involvements

28 coaches votes over 5 games

Finals games:
V Dogs
35 disposals @ 80%
12 contested
1 goal
10 score involvements
9 marks
4 marks
6 inside 50s

V Port
31 disposals @ 77%
16 contested
2 goal assists
6 score involvements
6 clearances
6 tackles
4 inside 50z

As shown, his impact around the contest and clearances were quality, he’s an inside bull, and has a prowess of exploding from contests with the ball and delivering by hand or foot with precision. He has a damaging long kick and was damaging forward as a marking or crumbing option, his main asset was his delivery to the forwards with near on 2 goal assists on average and 10+ score inv. He came into the league with a tackle record on debut and still holds that strength and intent around stoppages he loses.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Just list what team you believe Newcombe would be the #1 mid at. Simple.

We are comparing the Hawks best mid to other teams best mid. Not how a Hawks player compared at a B&F competing against his own teammates. Not relevant.

Being a decent player compared to your own teammates doesn't win football games or flags does it? You need to be better than your opposition. I'm pretty sure I understand that quite well enough.

Newcombe would clearly be the best midfielder at West Coast, Geelong, Richmond, St Kilda, and would be up there for every other side, as equal 1 or 2nd. At Hawthorn, Day is on par or close.

 

[Mr Meow]

Newcombe would clearly be the best midfielder at West Coast, Geelong, Richmond, St Kilda, and would be up there for every other side, as equal 1 or 2nd. At Hawthorn, Day is on par or close.

Interestingly Newcombe was poor in the Geelong games in 2024.

19 disposal average. No goals or goal assists.

Could've just been a coincidence but then he had just 15 disposals, 0 goals, 0 goal assists against the Cats in 2023.

A bit of a bogey side.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Hawks are going to be without Lewis or Dear for a large chunk of the season and their midfield is average at best compared to the rest of the league.

I'm tipping they miss the 8 this year as teams will have put some more time into combatting their game plan and their list isn't as strong as some of the other finals contenders + a tougher draw.

As for the Blues imploding? Could happen, but they've got the softest draw in footy next year and far more established talent on their list... So I'd have it as fairly unlikely.

Hawthorns midfield is not average.

It was shown that Hawthorns post clearance game was the best in the competition by a country mile. I wrote an article on it for gods sake. It was up there with the best of all time, and that is largely because of the wings and mids. The mids were clearly very strong around the stoppages because of the ability and damage from stoppages aswell.

You can’t say
Meek, Newcombe, Day and Worpel + wings of D’Ambrosio and even Weddle next year. Is an average midfield. The depth behind this is Nash, Mackenzie and Ward + Hustwaite.

Ward had a breakout game in the final against the Dogs showing his A Grade talent, Mackenzie is quality and is ready to break out, and others like Nash is good depth/a good solid role player, as is Morrison and Hustwaite (developing).

Average is a poor call.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Interestingly Newcombe was poor in the Geelong games in 2024.

19 disposal average. No goals or goal assists.

Could've just been a coincidence but then he had just 15 disposals, 0 goals, 0 goal assists against the Cats in 2023.

A bit of a bogey side.

Had an absolute gem of a game against you guys I believe 2022

Had 31 and 19 kicks in the wet.

But it’s an interesting point, although the team played poorly both times, he’s a barometer for the side, when he plays poor Hawthorn tend to.