HAWTHORN looked to be the breakout team of 2025 up until going down to Port Adelaide in the semi-final which saw the Hawks’ fellow expansion side take that mantle. Still, the brown and gold’s feats throughout the season were nothing short of outstanding, and are well placed for another deep run at it in season 10 of the AFLW.

LAST SEASON IN A NUTSHELL

Position: 2nd (lost in semi-final)
Wins: 10
Losses: 1

B&F: Eliza West
Leading Goalkicker: Aine McDonagh (16 goals)

OFF-SEASON MOVES

Ins: Najwa Allen (Adelaide), Keely Coyne (delisted free agent, Western Bulldogs), Grace Baba (Eastern Ranges/AFLW Draft), Rebecca Clottey (Geelong Falcons/AFLW Draft), Lavinia Cox (Bendigo Pioneers/AFLW Draft), Daisy Flockart (Sandringham Dragons/AFLW Draft), Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays/AFLW Draft)
Outs: Charlotte Baskaran (St Kilda), Mattea Breed (Collingwood), Lou Stephenson (Western Bulldogs), Bridget Deed, Casey Dumont, Sophie Locke, Tahlia Fellows (delisted)

2025 TEAM LIST

#1 Emily Bates
#2 Eliza West
#3 Greta Bodey
#4 Najwa Allen
#5 Jasmine Fleming
#6 Hayley McLaughlin
#7 Aileen Gilroy
#8 Lavinia Cox
#9 Keely Coyne
#10 Kaitlyn Ashmore
#11 Jenna Richardson
#12 Casey Sherriff
#13 Aine McDonagh
#14 Daisy Flockart
#15 Grace Baba
#16 Ainslie Kemp
#17 Mackenzie Eardley
#18 Tilly Lucas-Rodd
#19 Bridie Hipwell
#20 Laura Elliott
#21 Elli Symonds
#22 Laura Stone
#23 Jess Vukic
#24 Tamara Smith
#25 Emily Everist
#26 Rebecca Clottey
#27 Mikayla Williamson
#28 Sophie Butterworth
#31 Lucy Wales
#41 Kristy Stratton

*inactive
+injury replacement players

ONES TO WATCH

Key Player: Emily Bates
Breakout Potential: Laura Stone
New Recruit: Najwa Allen

Star midfielder Emily Bates is ready for another huge year and has plenty of support around her now going forward. One such player who can be deployed in all manner of roles is Laura Stone, who in her second season is ready to explode. With no shortage of new recruits, experienced Crows defender Najwa Allen will provide important composure behind the ball.

2025 FIXTURE

Round 1: vs. Brisbane | Sun Aug 17 @ Brighton Homes Arena, 12:40pm
Round 2: vs. Carlton | Sat Aug 23 @ Kinetic Stadium, 7:15pm
Round 3: vs. Western Bulldogs | Sat Aug 30 @ Whitten Oval, 7:15pm
Round 4: vs. St Kilda | Sat Sep 6 @ Cazalys Stadium, 7:15pm
Round 5: vs. Adelaide | Sun Sep 14 @ Kinetic Stadium, 3:05pm
Round 6: vs. Collingwood | Sat Sep 20 @ Victoria Park, 12:35pm
Round 7: vs. Geelong | Thu Sep 25 @ GMHBA Stadium, 7:15pm
Round 8: vs. Fremantle | Thu Oct 2 @ Kinetic Stadium, 7:15pm
Round 9: vs. Gold Coast | Sat Oct 11 @ Kinetic Stadium, 3:05pm
Round 10: vs. Port Adelaide | Fri Oct 17 @ Alberton Oval, 7:15pm
Round 11: vs. Essendon | Sat Oct 25 @ Windy Hill, 3:05pm
Round 12: vs. North Melbourne | TBC @ Kinetic Stadium

PREDICTION

After such a strong year in 2024, Hawthorn certainly has a tough fixture that stars and ends with tough games, while also playing a host of finals contenders along the way. The Hawks look good enough to slot straight back into finals, and will be among the logjam of sides competing for a top four spot. Anywhere from 3rd to 8th looks about right and anything is possible from there.