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The key difference that Moore has noticed in the Hawks
Nicholas Quinlan • September 13th, 2025 3:33 pm
Maturity, according to Hawthorn’s Dylan Moore, has been the main difference between the Hawks of 2024 and 2025, which has helped them progress to their first preliminary final since 2015.
Hawthorn were victors on Friday night as they condemned Adelaide to a straight-sets finish to their season with a 34-point win against the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
This sees the Hawks become the first side since North Melbourne in 2015 to have finished 8th and then gone on to make a preliminary final. It also sees them avenge last year's semi-final loss at the same ground.
Reflecting on the differences between this year’s team and last year’s, the 2024 All-Australian thinks the maturity and confidence in their game have been key.
“I think it is that maturity piece,” Moore told SEN’s Crunch Time.
“Last year, we had the momentum at the end of the season, and we were like, ‘Anything is possible, but it was kind of like, are we meant to be here?’
“Whereas this year, we have had a lot of performances throughout the year, where it’s been mature.
“We saw that last week, we saw that last night, that we didn’t give Adelaide an inch. Even if they did kick a couple of goals, we knew that we would be alright, and last year, we probably had false optimism.
“Where this year, we have genuine belief that we can go all the way.”
Having won their last two games in New South Wales and South Australia, the Hawks will now return to Victoria for their preliminary final clash against Geelong.
With it being the first time since 2016 that these sides have met in finals, Moore admitted to being quite excited about the prospect of playing their rivals for a spot in the Grand Final, having already discussed it with his teammates straight after the semi-final.
“It has been, to be honest,” he said.
“Even last night, we were in the pool doing some recovery, and we were like, ‘How good is this, Hawthorn vs Geelong just like the good old days in a prelim at the ‘G with 95,000 people there’.
“It’s going to be crazy.”
That preliminary final match between the Cats and Hawks will take place next Friday at the MCG, with the first bounce taking place at 7:40pm AEST.
