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Sport Nation
On a par with Dusty: The imperious finals form of vital Hawk
SEN • September 11th, 2025 11:31 am
Jai Newcombe’s first three finals for Hawthorn have been placed high on a pedestal.
The 24-year-old was one of the best players on the ground as the Hawks defeated GWS by 19 points in last weekend’s Elimination Final - his 100th AFL game.
Mid-season draftee Newcombe had 32 disposals, 17 contested possessions, an equal game-high 12 clearances, eight score involvements, two goal assists and kicked a goal in the stirring victory.
Before that he was best on ground in the Elimination Final win over the Western Bulldogs last year with 35 touches and was excellent in the narrow Semi-Final loss to Port Adelaide a week later with 31 disposals.
Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne says Newcombe’s three finals to date are up there with the legendary finals feats of Richmond great Dustin Martin.
“Jai Newcombe now sits alongside the greatest finals player in the history of the game as the only ones in the ratings system that have gone three consecutive finals as the highest rated on the ground,” Hoyne said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“Dusty did it in 2020, so Dusty did it within a season. Dusty went 1, 1, 1 in Semi-Final, Prelim and Grand Final - extraordinary. Jai has done it over his two finals campaigns.
“What Jai Newcombe did in that first half alone - that first half was the second highest rated half by a Hawk in any final. You think of Hodge, Mitchell, Franklin, Lewis, Roughead, Burgoyne - that’s the second highest rated half we’ve seen by a Hawk since 2010.
“His importance to this team is absolutely significant. His first half was off the charts. Third quarter quiet, just one clearance. What happened in the third quarter? Hawthorn went -13 clearances for the quarter - the worst in the club’s history in a single quarter.
“GWS get back (in the game) off the back of absolute clearance dominance as a result of Jai going quiet.”
Newcombe could hold the key for the Hawks in this Friday night’s Semi-Final clash with the Crows in Adelaide.
Hoyne referenced the Round 21 meeting between the two sides when Izak Rankine, who is suspended, booted three goals in a 14-point result to the home side.
On that occasion Newcombe had just 19 touches but did have nine clearances alongside Will Day, now injured, who had seven clearances of his own.
“This final on Friday night, Newcombe’s importance again will be significant. Everyone has spoken about the loss of Izak Rankine and what it’s done to Adelaide,” Hoyne added.
“People just need to cast your mind back four weeks ago the they played in that cracking Friday night game at the Adelaide Oval - number one rated player on the ground was Jordan Dawson, number two rated player on the ground was Will Day who is not there.
“Number three rated player on the ground was Izak Rankine, not there.
“So everyone knows with Izak (what the Crows are missing). Will Day has probably gone a bit unnoticed now that he’s been out for a little while. His absence potentially at some stage in this finals series might come back to hurt them because if Jai doesn’t get it done, who else will get it done?”
Newcombe picked up eight votes in the Gary Ayres Medal for his efforts against GWS last Saturday.
In his two previous finals he polled 10 voted against the Dogs and five against the Power, eventually finishing fourth behind Lachie Neale, Isaac Heeney and Will Ashcroft in the best finals player award.
