2025 AFL Team Previews

Hawthorn Hawks AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement

Jeremy Darke

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Last updated: Thu 20 Feb 2025 13:56

Jeremy Darke 20 Feb 2025

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Hawthorn Hawks predicted to finish 9th in the 2025 AFL season.
Offseason adds Tom Barass & Josh Battle
Will the Hawks continue to build momentum from their 2024 season?

Hawthorn Hawks predicted to finish 9th in the 2025 AFL season. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Hawthorn Hawks AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement

Hawthorn Hawks AFL 2025 Team Preview, Predictions & Player Movement
Where the Hawthorn Hawks finish in 2025: 9
Projected Win total: 12
Best Contender for Brownlow Medal: Jai Newcombe
What’s to like
What’s NOT to like
Hawthorn Hawks Offseason Player Movement
Hawthorn Hawks Predicted Round 1 Squad

Where the Hawthorn Hawks finish in 2025: 9

The Hawks finishing outside the eight is a shock for most and this prediction could be the one that is a work of geniuses or makes us recalculate our whole computer model.

Hawthorn shocked the whole league in 2024, turning a 0-5 record into a 14 wins and 9 losses and a 7th place finish and a semifinal appearance. But that was last season.

The Hawks over-achieved in a big way and I’m not sure they are going to be able to replicate the heroics of 2024 to the same degree. They brought in Tom Barass and Josh Battle to strengthen their backline, which most would say should earn them a few more wins. However, their opposition is going to be well prepared for them in 2025 and this will likely see them plateau out right where they were last year.

Projected Win total: 12

Finishing 2024 with 14 wins and in 7th place was nine spots better than what was predicted for them at the start of the season.

The Hawks jumped a lot of teams with an element of surprise which they will not have in 2025. Despite Hawthorn improving their roster they are predicted to tally 2 wins less than they did in 2024.

Best Contender for Brownlow Medal: Jai Newcombe

Jai Newcombe had a career-best year in 2024 winning the Peter Crimmins Medal as the club’s Best & Fairest and finishing 10th in the Brownlow count.

Newcombe has become one of the AFL’s premium ball-winners, using his tenacity and high work-rate to get the better of his opponents. The success of the Hawks had a lot to do with the form of the 23-year-old and he is expected to replicate and improve on his talents in 2025.

What’s to like

The energy that the Hawks bring is second to none in the AFL and their ability to move the ball tightly through the hands and transition from defence into attack was their biggest strength in 2024.

Their young and almost nonchalant attitude was like a secret weapon for them last season players like Jack Ginnivan and Nick Watson brought a flare to the club that had been missing for years.

If Sam mitchell can harness his young guns and continue to develop them at the rate that he has, Hawthorn are going to find themselves long up the ladder for many years to come.

What’s NOT to like

The fear of a reality check hangs over the head of the Hawthorn club after over achieving well above expectation in 2024.

The Hawks aggressive style of footy is their strength but there is fear that it is not sustainable and their opposition will be ready for them in 2025.

Hawthorn Hawks Offseason Player Movement

Cody Anderson (No.64 draft pick, Academy), Josh Battle (free agent, St Kilda), Tom Barrass (trade, West Coast), Matt Hill (Category B rookie), Noah Mraz (No.35 draft pick), Jaime Uhr-Henry (Category B rookie)

OUT

Josh Bennetts (delisted), Denver Grainger-Barras (delisted), Cooper Stephens (delisted), Jack O'Sullivan (delisted), Ethan Phillips (delisted), Clay Tucker (delisted), Chad Wingard (retired)