In a cultural climate saturated with provocation, reaction, and overreaction, Sam Mitchell's Hawthorn team undoubtedly fits the current era. Within the Australian Football League (AFL) and perhaps across professional sports, no team is likely more adept at employing the age-old tactic of "baiting." They have mastered the art of getting under their opponents' skin.
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02-25, 2025Looking back at 2024, Hawthorn's energetic young players consistently managed to infuriate many older, more experienced individuals. Ken Hinkley experienced this firsthand, and throughout the season, many others encountered similar situations in stadiums and living rooms alike. Hawthorn boasts a cohort of players skilled at riling up opponents, including seasoned veteran Jack Ginnivan, rising star Nick Watson, leader James Sicily, and trusted deputies Connor Macdonald and Dylan Moore.
Hawthorn's emergence as a strong contender for the playoffs in the 2024 season was undoubtedly one of the year's most compelling narratives. At the heart of this story are these players and their ability to evoke strong emotions from fans and opponents alike. However, their footballing prowess is often underestimated, and these players are crucial components of Mitchell's tactical system, which once brought the team within a hair's breadth of the grand final.
Moore rightfully earned All-Australian selection thanks to a breakthrough season. Watson is a highly talented but still somewhat raw draftee. Ginnivan is already a premiership player whose football intelligence is far greater than people give him credit for. While people are busy shaking their fists at these precocious upstarts, they are focused on winning game after game.
However, mere "atmosphere" will not be enough to sustain Hawthorn's success in the 2025 season. The other 17 teams will calmly analyze Hawthorn's tactics during the off-season and prepare to counter those "tricks" they might use again. They will look for clues from the semi-final loss to Port Adelaide. In that match, Hawthorn uncharacteristically failed to execute their favored transition game, scoring well below their average of 2.2 points (14 points) from this source.
Port Adelaide focused on limiting the impact of key players like Moore, Ginnivan, and Watson in that game, and while the trio still accounted for six of Hawthorn's 11 goals that night, their overall influence on the match and Hawthorn's ability to score from transition were curtailed. Ginnivan's post-match clash with Hinkley and Watson's brilliant third goal ensured they still dominated headlines after a fiery match, but Port Adelaide secured the ultimate victory. It was hard-earned, of course.
Despite Hinkley's efforts to restrict one of Hawthorn's most effective scoring avenues, he couldn't completely shut them down, ultimately eking out a narrow three-point victory. Hawthorn adjusted quickly, managing to generate a significant number of points from stoppages. At times, it seemed pure willpower allowed them to remain competitive against a passionate home crowd and a supremely talented, determined Port Adelaide side.
While a detailed analysis of Hawthorn's tactics in the 2024 season is possible, their success also hinged on a certain intangible magic. You could call it confidence, or youthful fearlessness, or even "Hawksball," whatever it was, Hawthorn was brimming with it in the second half of the season. Hawthorn's success or failure in 2025 will depend on the balance of these two factors – was last season's success merely a flash in the pan, or the beginning of a sustained rise that ultimately leads to a premiership?
Hawthorn's acquisition of experienced defenders Josh Battle and Tom Barrass is undoubtedly based on the latter judgment, aimed at strengthening the team's defense. On paper, the addition of these two players alone is enough to make Hawthorn stronger in 2025, especially considering the injuries to Karl Amon and Mitch Lewis, and Sicily now needing to play forward.
Hawthorn remains a young and promising team, and Mitchell is a natural coach. If anyone is surprised by Hawthorn's rapid rise under his leadership, it can only mean they haven't been paying attention. Because everything Mitchell touches in football tends to turn to gold. It's hard to imagine Hawthorn being boring in 2025. If they can continue to improve and qualify for the finals again, then Hawthorn will surely be one of the most watched teams in the league once more. But if the team falters, or even collapses entirely, then millions will flock to their devices each week to watch their "train wreck." This is the inevitable consequence when your nature is to embrace the challenge head-on. Just a flick of Watson's wand and you will be drawn into the Hawthorn magic, for better or worse.
