Who will be better in 2025 - Geelong or Hawthorn?

[TheFourPillars]

What would be your pass mark then, given they were a whisker off a prelim in 2024? Grand final appearance?

All things being equal. With a moderate injury list you would think hawthorn would want to play a prelim. Obviously there is no ceiling

 

[craffles]

You’re free to have your opinion, but “over performing” is simply not possible.

You either produce to your capability or you do not. It’s that simple.

Hawthorn produced to their capability in 2024 and with the age/experience on the park as well as added and returning players it makes far more logical sense to suggest they should get better, not worse.

As for Hawthorn winning games because they had an unknown gameplan, that’s just silly.
“Just wait until other clubs put some work into Hawthorn” we kept hearing that all through the second half of the year.
The idea that Hawthorn won games on the back of opposition analysts at each club not bothering to turn up and do their job when Hawthorn was their next opponent is one of the dumbest things I read throughout the season and you seem to running with it too.
The reality is Hawthorn won games in 2024 because they don’t have a one or even two headed snake to quell and kill. They are even across the park, and have a bunch of players who can fill multiple roles. On top of that you have to put a lot of effort into stopping all of Sicily, Weddle, Amon, Scrimshaw and Impey bouncing off half back, which was a harder task for any opposition than simply understanding the gameplan.

“You’re free to have an opinion but I’m gonna go ahead and say you’ve written the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Stay classy, Hok fans. You’ve peaked already with a bunch of c grade players

 

[hawkman]

“You’re free to have an opinion but I’m gonna go ahead and say you’ve written the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Stay classy, Hok fans. You’ve peaked already with a bunch of c grade players

There is a difference between saying you have peaked instead of over performed.
Did we peak last year? I don't think so but it is possible.
Did we over perform last year? That is impossible

 

[hawkman]

What would be your pass mark then, given they were a whisker off a prelim in 2024? Grand final appearance?

With a good run with injury a good performance in a prelim. I have us down for 5th so we may fall short of that but the pass mark should be progress from this year

 

[Mr Meow]

All things being equal. With a moderate injury list you would think hawthorn would want to play a prelim. Obviously there is know ceiling

Yeah I'd say top 4 and a competitive prelim (so a Geelong 2024, rather than Port 2024) would be a tick, although it's not disastrous if they end up in the 5th-8th range again.

The only thing I disagree with some Hawthorn supporters is the fact that clear improvement (e.g finishing top 4 and a competitive prelim or GF) is much more likely than slight regression (EF loss or just barely missing finals). It could go either way.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Yeah I'd say top 4 and a competitive prelim (so a Geelong 2024, rather than Port 2024) would be a tick, although it's not disastrous if they end up in the 5th-8th range again.

The only thing I disagree with some Hawthorn supporters is the fact that clear improvement (e.g finishing top 4 and a competitive prelim or GF) is much more likely than slight regression (EF loss or just barely missing finals). It could go either way.

Yeah nothing is guaranteed of course. I think we will know in the first few weeks

 

[matey]

Many are thinking and saying that the Hawks will go backwards due to various reasons such as they will be worked out, big heads, harder draw etc which are all valid reasons. However what’s being overlooked is that they aren’t yet close to the finished product.

Hawks aren’t far behind the best and gained a lot of belief especially among the younger players which is an important ingredient for success which will perhaps make them work harder. After watching them coming back from the break they aren’t resting on their laurels ….. they have come back with plenty of urgency/energy compared to the last couple of years before Xmas! Hope my gut feel is right only time will tell I guess

 

[James Colorado]

I imagine a key part of Chols role would be to ensure a contest and bring ball to ground for the small forwards, which is largely unheralded

Very much so, but he was brilliant with F50 pressure and tackles. Even in games where he wasn't taking marks and kicking goals, he was able to exert influence on the game by playing the defensive side of his game very well.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

What would be your pass mark then, given they were a whisker off a prelim in 2024? Grand final appearance?

It’s gotta be finals again at a minimum you’d think, as a pass mark.

They’ll be aiming to win a Prelim internally though.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

“You’re free to have an opinion but I’m gonna go ahead and say you’ve written the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Stay classy, Hok fans. You’ve peaked already with a bunch of c grade players

If you post something as dumb as “other teams will look at hawks now” then I’m sorry, I’m going to call it out.

But it’s nice of you to double down and say something even dumber.

 

[Mr Meow]

It’s gotta be finals again at a minimum you’d think, as a pass mark.

They’ll be aiming to win a Prelim internally though.

I think it's a similar situation for Geelong. The result was disappointing, but to be in a deathly close prelim without Selwood, Hawkins, Cam Guthrie, Tuohy, Smith, Rohan and Duncan(sub) retired or not in the best 22 was very encouraging - look how important that group of players was in 2022. If Stanley, Bews and Atkins are replaced with 3 improving players and more finals experience is gained it would be a win. Staying competitive remains an important factor in attracting talent to replace retirees.

 

[Gavin Excell]

It’s gotta be finals again at a minimum you’d think, as a pass mark.

They’ll be aiming to win a Prelim internally though.

Reasonable targets

 

[hawkman]

The fact some Cats fans are trying to twist an opportunity for the club to be open and accessible to their fans and the footy public which was offered by 7 into the thought that Hawthorn are "over confident" based on the simple acceptance of an offer is just pathetic

Its 2024

You need to offer more for your fans in the way of engagement, being off-Broadway from a commercial sense is not viable

And if you don't take that opportunity, its a detriment to your club and your members

Back to the actual question at hand

Both finish in the 3-6 category

The Hawthorn in-house team will probably end up producing a better quality product than what Channel 7 do anyway.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

The Hawthorn in-house team will probably end up producing a better quality product than what Channel 7 do anyway.

Mainly because Channel 7 will almost certainly botch it.

 

[hawkman]

Mainly because Channel 7 will almost certainly botch it.

You can almost guarantee it

 

[FootyLad0]

You can almost guarantee it

Surprised they haven’t tried to go down to a Collingwood or Carlton training session so they can froth over them more than they already do

 

[MCG-Unit]

Geelong

 

[BIGHAWK23]

“You’re free to have an opinion but I’m gonna go ahead and say you’ve written the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Stay classy, Hok fans. You’ve peaked already with a bunch of c grade players

C graders?

You used 3 firsts on 3 D graders, you could only dream of our youth

Go hang out in the bottom 4 threads, its where you will live for a while

 

[HairyO]

Hawks have about 10 more weeks of free footy, then the oppo will start working things out as always happens. Then we'll see how it goes.

Have GWS worked out what to do if the umpires start following the rules and pay the mark to the man in front rather than to Hogan who grabs the ball off them from behind? He got at least 20 goals in 2024 doing this.

 

[Osho]

Have GWS worked out what to do if the umpires start following the rules and pay the mark to the man in front rather than to Hogan who grabs the ball off them from behind? He got at least 20 goals in 2024 doing this.

Don't be so sensitive!

 

[dylan93]

Geelong - 4th to 9th
Hawthorn - 5th to 12th

Cats too good at home, Hawks tougher draw this year.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

There's only 3 players over 30 in Geelong's B&F top 10 not 4. The 4th oldest is Zach Guthrie who turned 26 in the second half of the season.

Replacing Danger, Cameron and Stewart over the next few years feels very manageable when our prelim team had to replace Selwood, Hawkins, Guthrie, Smith, De Koning, Rohan, Tuohy, O'Connor, Parfitt and Duncan (sub) from the 2022 premiership team. And if we'd taken our chances or our best player hadn't been subbed off injured we wouldn't be talking about that team as narrow prelim final losers either.

Replacing Cameron is manageable? He's a freak of a player good luck getting somebody in even half as good. He's going to cop all the attention the next couple of years until Neale develops even more and that will take a bit out of him. Not getting any younger himself. If your matching the key forwards against eachother Cameron is worth 2 of our forwards combined and that I'm happily willing to concede. He's as important as Lewis is to our structure but obviously he's 1 of the best in the game in general so he's on a level on his own. You will be competitive whilst he is still close to the peak of his powers as he is simply a match winner plain and simple.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

The old 2024 version of Geelong gave the Hawks a bit of a touch up Easter Monday at the Mighty MCG. Young Ollie Henry took Sicily apart kicking four goals on him, and this well before the bung shoulder excuse our Maybloom friends love to bring up. Hopefully superstar recruits Battle and Barrass can give the poor bugger a chop out next year.

You know full well it was an excuse for more than half a season and he still fronted up and played some great footy. If you seriously think Battle and Barrass won't make a huge difference back there you have rocks in your head. Cameron will have his work cut out getting any sort of free reign to strut his stuff. There's half a dozen guys down there that can intercept at will now. Good luck. Your gonna need Holmes and Smith leading your midfield because there isn't much behind them. Cue the hubris response back I know ill get from you. I know how you post.

 

[Mr Meow]

Replacing Cameron is manageable? He's a freak of a player good luck getting somebody in even half as good. He's going to cop all the attention the next couple of years until Neale develops even more and that will take a bit out of him. Not getting any younger himself. If your matching the key forwards against eachother Cameron is worth 2 of our forwards combined and that I'm happily willing to concede. He's as important as Lewis is to our structure but obviously he's 1 of the best in the game in general so he's on a level on his own. You will be competitive whilst he is still close to the peak of his powers as he is simply a match winner plain and simple.

Actually we need Cameron to step up. He was poor against the big teams and filled his boots against the poor ones. Performing in the big moments is key.

Whether he can do that as he did in 2022 remains to be seen.

 

[Mr Meow]

You know full well it was an excuse for more than half a season and he still fronted up and played some great footy. If you seriously think Battle and Barrass won't make a huge difference back there you have rocks in your head. Cameron will have his work cut out getting any sort of free reign to strut his stuff. There's half a dozen guys down there that can intercept at will now. Good luck. Your gonna need Holmes and Smith leading your midfield because there isn't much behind them. Cue the hubris response back I know ill get from you. I know how you post.

Dangerfield and Stewart received our most coaches votes as midfielders in 2024. Holmes just behind as he was mostly half back, but finals showed that may change going into 2025.

Danger, Holmes, Smith, Stewart, Bowes and Bruhn is an okay mix but we need Bruhn and Smith to have good years.