The opening round of the 2025 AFL season saw Hawthorn triumph against Grand Finallists Sydney Swans and GWS Giants produce a demolition against premiership favourites Collingwood Magpies.
Hawks begin 2025 in style
After a sensational season in 2024 which saw them exceed expectations and prove doubters wrong as they reached the AFL Finals series, Hawthorn has continued their form and opened up their campaign in style after defeating Grand Finallists Sydney Swans.
Karl Amon and Will Day led the disposal count with 27 and 26 possessions a piece, with the latter also kicking three goals in a best-on-ground performance. The performance by Day has already seen fans and pundits expect to be in contention for the Brownlow Medal and if he continues his form and the Hawks continue to win, there is no telling how successful his season might be.
While Josh Battle and Tom Barrass both impressed in their club debuts, the Hawks’ victory was soured by an injury to midfielder James Worpel, who sustained an ankle injury and is set to spend at least a couple of weeks out of action on the sidelines.
“All I know at this stage is ankle. I said (to Worpel), ‘Is it one of those, ok in a couple of days or one of those six-weekers?’, and he goes, ‘I’ll be right’,” coach Sam Mitchell said.
“There was a moment where he looked like he was going to pop out of stoppage and he ended up on the ground and then limped off after that.
“I don’t know what it is. If it’s a syndesmosis (injury), that always sounds bad and they’re anywhere from six (weeks) to a lot longer, so I hope it’s not that. I hope he’s just rolled his ankle.”
2 minutes 11 seconds of pure Will Day Cinema 🤩 pic.twitter.com/HvlHvOHUnx
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) March 8, 2025
GWS produce clinical 52-point win
Weeks after turning down a $15 million contract to remain at the GWS Giants, midfielder Finn Callaghan stole the show against the Collingwood Magpies as he spearheaded a 52-point demolition of his opponents over the weekend.
Racking up 33 possessions and kicking two goals, Callaghan helped lead the Giants to victory as several of Collingwood’s star players, such as Nick Dacios, failed to fire and struggled to make chances when they had the ball in their hands.
Although it was all positives for the Giants, they did have one negative with ruck Kieren Briggs being helped off the fielder after being involved in a sickening collision but has since been cleared of any neck or spinal injury.
“(Briggs) was out for a little bit, so he’ll go through the (concussion) protocols,” Giants coach Adam Kingsley said.
“He’s gone to Westmead (hospital) just as a precaution, but I think he’s OK. Obviously it was a nasty incident, and concussion so he’ll miss next week.
“I saw Sam Taylor flying backwards, that was probably what took my eyes. I don’t know if (Briggs) was pushed or not.”
Finn Callaghan is the REAL DEAL ‼️‼️#AFLGiantsPies | @GWSGIANTS pic.twitter.com/2DHicsbgIa
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 9, 2025