Prediction Who will be better in 2025? Carlton or Hawthorn?

[T2B_]

Heard him on radio and his favourite underwear on game day are boxer shorts with yellow little duckies ……. on a million bucks you’d hope he would be solely focused on crashing packs, being aggressive at ball/man, applying pressure, opposition backs etc but nah what underwear shall will I wear today. And then to have a crack at Chol who is the only key forward while holding the fort with Lewis/Dear out Seriously!

The McKay bros are different cats, that's for sure.

 

[matey]

What the flying eff. You're right about the others but have to pull you up on this one, which is almost like you never watch him.

He absolutely busts his gut, all the while we mismanage him and use him in the ruck for some reason. Often has to contend with not one, but 2 or sometimes even 3 opposition players doing everything they can to impede him away from the ball. Which only makes it incredibly sad how ineffective his teammates are who should have an easier time getting the ball.

You won’t get anything from me re Cripps ….. other than total respect great Blues man

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

What the flying eff. You're right about the others but have to pull you up on this one, which is almost like you never watch him.

He absolutely busts his gut, all the while we mismanage him and use him in the ruck for some reason. Often has to contend with not one, but 2 or sometimes even 3 opposition players doing everything they can to impede him away from the ball. Which only makes it incredibly sad how ineffective his teammates are who should have an easier time getting the ball.

The poster has some of the worst takes on this board.

Cripps is one of your best ever, and doesn’t stop trying.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Still inconsistent on his off days. Him and Day need to tighten that gap to join the top wrung of mids in the comp. Was fantastic last night.

And they will.

With Newcombe, however, his career trajectory suggests he's still being underrated by many outside of Hawthorn and the media. (I'll give the media credit, because they've been singing his praises for a while now).

2022 - Coaches association young player of the year
2023 - All Australian squad
2024 - Top 10 in the Brownlow. Top 15 coaches votes. B&F. 3rd in Gary Ayres medal.
2025 - Currently ranked elite for kicks, clearances and tackles

 

[CCurnow3votes]

McKay is a fraud, and if this mentality of his permeates the rest of the playing group it’s no wonder you can’t achieve anything.

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Playing without him, 1/3 of a curnow & playing the worst football we've played in 3 years, you beat us by 20 pts.

Don’t get too full of yourself brother!

 

[RCAB]

Leave Walshy alone. He’s relaxing feeling the sand between his toes.

Walsh on Thursday

22 disposals, 1 score involvement, 8 turnovers. Yikes.

 

[Fadge]

...playing the worst football we've played in 3 years

Jeepers, that's a big statement!

 

[Bugs1977]

Ginnivan was super confident, if not completely tongue in cheek. Pretty much the opposite of McKay.

I actually got sent that by a Carlton supporting mate who’s had a gutful.

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Unfortunately depending on contract status this seems to be the mentality of a lot of million dollar athletes these days. For some losing burns but for a fair amount of them they do go home thinking 'oh well at least I'm rich'!

 

[CCurnow3votes]

Jeepers, that's a big statement!

It’s a sad fact!

Although slightly better in the contest this week.

Bereft of confidence, no functioning forward line & Hawks can only beat us by 20pts…

Hawthorn will “please themselves” to death, if not careful.

 

[mike ross]

I’ve not really heard him speak before, but that article is pretty damning peak into a mindset that’s not going to get anything done.

Whilst I haven't heard an Essendon player say something like that, I swear it feels like to me most of them feel the same way.

 

[I got the outside word]

Jeepers, that's a big statement!

They were super impressive against the Tigers.

It’s unfortunate that we had to red line it in first to get the job done on Thursday.

 

[T2B_]

And they will.

With Newcombe, however, his career trajectory suggests he's still being underrated by many outside of Hawthorn and the media. (I'll give the media credit, because they've been singing his praises for a while now).

2022 - Coaches association young player of the year
2023 - All Australian squad
2024 - Top 10 in the Brownlow. Top 15 coaches votes. B&F. 3rd in Gary Ayres medal.
2025 - Currently ranked elite for kicks, clearances and tackles

He's a gun alright, and a great story, always love when a player is plucked from somewhere like the MSD and succeeds.

Bring back the long hair though personally

 

[CarmenSandiego]

Whilst I haven't heard an Essendon player say something like that, I swear it feels like to me most of them feel the same way.

Yep, it’s the modern day elite athlete.

Just a job, make bank whilst you can.

Wouldn’t surprise me if they’re trained to say this shit anyway, to avoid any further external pressure.

Having said all that I’d be very happy to move Harry on

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

And they will.

With Newcombe, however, his career trajectory suggests he's still being underrated by many outside of Hawthorn and the media. (I'll give the media credit, because they've been singing his praises for a while now).

2022 - Coaches association young player of the year
2023 - All Australian squad
2024 - Top 10 in the Brownlow. Top 15 coaches votes. B&F. 3rd in Gary Ayres medal.
2025 - Currently ranked elite for kicks, clearances and tackles

Highly likely. Very motivated players and when ur team is up and about everyone is doing everything they can to make up that difference.

 

[carlton_99]

Unfortunately depending on contract status this seems to be the mentality of a lot of million dollar athletes these days. For some losing burns but for a fair amount of them they do go home thinking 'oh well at least I'm rich'!

Important to listen to the whole interview before passing judgement on an isolated quote imo. He said a lot more than that

 

[carlton_99]

Hawthorn are a very good team and like I have said before I think they have the best current coach in the AFL. Focusing on game itself it had a real finals feel to it being there. Crazy amount of pressure applied by both teams. We lacked composure at specific times that hurt us - especially when we were tackled and just needed to hold it in and let is spill out. A real pet peeve of mine. Also felt like again conversion in front of goal really hurt us. Can't afford to not take your chances in a competition this tight. Last two weeks we have kicked 4.15 (39) in 2nd halves compared to our opponents who have scored 16.6 (102).

From a Carlton perspective, felt like we were really missing that impact from our KPFs. No McKay and obviously Charlie had little impact on return. Also lacking some distribution off HB which I think will be partially fixed by hopefully a return of Jordan Boyd this week. Still think he is the best kick on this team. But that effort and intensity needs to be the standard for the rest of our season.

 

[RCAB]

carlton_99 if Mckay had played on Thursday, then Hawthorn would have won by a bigger margin.

We didn't really hit our straps with our half-back running game. But if McKay had played, we would have had better rebounds from D50.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

carlton_99 if Mckay had played on Thursday, then Hawthorn would have won by a bigger margin.

We didn't really hit our straps with our half-back running game. But if McKay had played, we would have had better rebounds from D50.

We had Lewis Young playing in his place. If you honestly believe that you've got NFI.

Been plenty of games where a fit Curnow and McKay have taken both Barass and Battle to the cleaners.

 

[RCAB]

We had Lewis Young playing in his place. If you honestly believe that you've got NFI.

Been plenty of games where a fit Curnow and McKay have taken both Barass and Battle to the cleaners.

To wash their socks?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

To wash their socks?

Last time Curnow was fit playing on Barass he kicked 9 goals on him. It was so dire they had to drag Oscar Allen out of the forward line to try and double team him and still got flogged.

 

[RCAB]

Last time Curnow was fit on Barass he kicked 9 goals on him. It was so dire they had to drag Oscar Allen out of the forward line to try and double team him and still got flogged.

Now do Mckay...I wasn't talking about Curnow, in my original post...or are you going to mention Kernahan next?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Now do Mckay...I wasn't talking about Curnow, in my original post...or are you going to mention Kernahan next?

Last time Barass played on him? Kicked 5.3.

I mean hell, Jack Silvagni could have kicked 3-4 on him the other night if he wasn't wayward with his fairly easy set shots on a night the Blues were absolutely putrid forward of centre.

 

[carlton_99]

carlton_99 if Mckay had played on Thursday, then Hawthorn would have won by a bigger margin.

We didn't really hit our straps with our half-back running game. But if McKay had played, we would have had better rebounds from D50.

I don't agree at all that the margin would have been bigger for the following reasons. If McKay plays JSOS stays back and Young wouldn't have played. This would have meant Weitering on Chol which is a much better matchup for us than Young who was beaten convincingly especially early. I don't think there would be any significant change in your ability to rebound from D50. McKay is a very good pressure player for someone his height but let's put that aside. At the very least McKay provides a very clear aerial target. Makes it very easy for the smalls to know where the ball is going and they can be at his feet to stop the ball leaking out for rebounds from D50. It also means that we can play Kemp as the 3rd tall rather than the 2nd which is the role we envisaged for him when we sent him forward in the pre-season. The other thing it does is it allows McKay to play 2nd ruck rather than Young/Cripps. McKay is a much better ruck, gets him around the ball and around the ground he is elite.

I really don't see how McKay instead of Young makes us worse. In fact I think there are plenty of reasons why it would make us much better as described above. And before I get jumped on I'm not saying with McKay we automatically win or anything. But first two rounds I think we have gotten very little from two very important pieces to our team. This team hasn't played at anything close to its capacity yet imo.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I don't agree at all that the margin would have been bigger for the following reasons. If McKay plays JSOS stays back and Young wouldn't have played. This would have meant Weitering on Chol which is a much better matchup for us than Young who was beaten convincingly especially early. I don't think there would be any significant change in your ability to rebound from D50. McKay is a very good pressure player for someone his height but let's put that aside. At the very least McKay provides a very clear aerial target. Makes it very easy for the smalls to know where the ball is going and they can be at his feet to stop the ball leaking out for rebounds from D50. It also means that we can play Kemp as the 3rd tall rather than the 2nd which is the role we envisaged for him when we sent him forward in the pre-season. The other thing it does is it allows McKay to play 2nd ruck rather than Young/Cripps. McKay is a much better ruck, gets him around the ball and around the ground he is elite.

I really don't see how McKay instead of Young makes us worse. In fact I think there are plenty of reasons why it would make us much better as described above.

McKay could miss every shot on goal he'd have for the game and still be an improvement on Young in the side.

 

[T2B_]

I don't agree at all that the margin would have been bigger for the following reasons. If McKay plays JSOS stays back and Young wouldn't have played. This would have meant Weitering on Chol which is a much better matchup for us than Young who was beaten convincingly especially early. I don't think there would be any significant change in your ability to rebound from D50. McKay is a very good pressure player for someone his height but let's put that aside. At the very least McKay provides a very clear aerial target. Makes it very easy for the smalls to know where the ball is going and they can be at his feet to stop the ball leaking out for rebounds from D50. It also means that we can play Kemp as the 3rd tall rather than the 2nd which is the role we envisaged for him when we sent him forward in the pre-season. The other thing it does is it allows McKay to play 2nd ruck rather than Young/Cripps. McKay is a much better ruck, gets him around the ball and around the ground he is elite.

I really don't see how McKay instead of Young makes us worse. In fact I think there are plenty of reasons why it would make us much better as described above. And before I get jumped on I'm not saying with McKay we automatically win or anything. But first two rounds I think we have gotten very little from two very important pieces to our team. This team hasn't played at anything close to its capacity yet imo.

Out of Curnow and McKay, Harry is definitely the better pressure applier too. Even when Curnow's fitter, he's never been too great at actually applying pressure or running down a defender. Harry for all his faults, has done that.