Episode 8 and it’s Hawk time with Hawko!!!!

 We head to Waverley to break down Hawthorn’s attempt at a rapid fire rebuild, a promising 2025 surge, and yet another finals dagger delivered by Dangerfield’s Cats. Plenty of on field growth, plenty of off field pain, including more big outs, no marquee ins, and a list still working out who leads it into the next era.

We unpack Lloyd Meek’s career Fantasy season, strong campaigns from Karl Amon and Jai Newcombe, and a frustrating James Sicily regression as Sam Mitchell moved away from “chip-mark Sic Dog” footy.

The list turnover was real, with Cam Nean, Aidan Schubert and Ollie Greaves coming in, while CJ, Jai Serong and James Worpel departed and veterans Sam Frost and Luke Breust retired.

From boom picks in 2025, to breakout candidates for 2026, we break down who’s worth the Fantasy spend, and who becomes a trap under the new ruck rules and faster ball movement.

We finish with 2026 ladder predictions and wonder if the Hawks make the 8 again, will they be able to form a good finals run?