Why Cornes is bullish that Hawthorn can win the premiership in 2025

Hawthorn came agonisingly close to making a Preliminary Final over the weekend and Kane Cornes is bullish that with the additions that will be made to that side next year, the Hawks can win the premiership in 2025.

They were without key players on Friday night, including Will Day, Mitch Lewis and Cam Mackenzie, as well as key defenders Sam Frost and James Blanck.

They will land star defenders Tom Barrass and Josh Battle in the trade period and Cornes feels they have enormous scope for internal improvement from their younger stars.

“For Hawthorn, I think you look at their personnel and it would give you a lot of confidence. So, Will Day doesn’t play, if he plays they win that game I would’ve thought,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.

“I’m a big fan of Mitch Lewis. If they can get him right, it’s a big recovery, but him over Chol is frightening, and then you add Tom Barrass and Josh Battle into that back six.

“Looking at what’s coming back from a personnel point of view coupled with the improvement from Connor Macdonald and Cam Mackenzie and Josh Ward and Nick Watson – they are in a really good position.

“They’ve also had the experience of playing in finals, big games under lights, getting it done against the Dogs, I think they will be my favourite to win the premiership next year.

Nathan Buckley however wonders whether the Hawks will be able to play with the same freedom when under the scrutiny of expectations.

“I’ll counteract that with one thing. They will never be free of expectations they way they have been this year ever again,” Buckley said.

“In 12 months time if they were in the same position against the same opponent, they will have far more expectations and dealing with that is challenging for any team of any level of experience.

“The relative freedom that they’ve enjoyed over the last three months, they’ve played free and they’ve taken the game on without expectations, they will never find themselves in that space again.”

Cornes agrees that it will be a challenge, but believes they have what it takes.

“I feel like this group is going to be able to handle that. I think they will, but you’re right. If you’re Channel Seven, you’re going to want Hawthorn on Friday nights next year,” he said.

“That’s a different level. They’ll be primetime eight or nine times next year. It’s definitely a different challenge and the opposition have a look at you over the pre-season and can work you out like Port Adelaide did on Friday night.”