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The 4 certainties for Sydney versus Hawthorn
SEN •  March 7th, 2025 4:07 pm
Back for another year, the SEN.com.au team gives you an insight into how every game will play out across the weekend.
Labelling something a ‘certainty’ in any sport is fraught with danger.
But we’ll attempt to find some anyway.
Here is what we consider certainties for the Opening Round clash between Sydney and Hawthorn.
Sydney
Warner to have 25+ disposals
Chad Warner will be one of the most talked about players in 2025 as he comes out of contract, and he gets his first chance to impress against the Hawks on Friday night.
While we might not be as confident as David Schwarz who is predicting the superstar to have a ridiculous 35 touches and kick four goals, we still think Warner should find plenty of footy.
With both Errol Gulden and Callum Mills out, Warner will be relied on to carry the Swans on the inside and the outside of the contest and as a result should find his way to the 25-touch mark.
McCartin to kick at least one goal
Tom McCartin has made the move forward this off-season, and he’ll be desperate to get off on the right foot inside 50 against the Hawks.
In the practice match win over Gold Coast, McCartin made an immediate impact in front of the big sticks with four goals, 14 disposals and seven marks.
While he may not have as big of a say in this one up against the likes of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle, he should finish at least one of his chances in front of the big sticks.
Lachlan Geleit
Hawthorn
Watson to kick 2+ goals
There could be a little bit of rain around Sydney tonight, so that could bring into play Hawthorn’s small forwards.
But even if it is dry, Nick Watson is likely to have a say anyway.
The diminutive young gun kicked multiple goals in six of his last eight games of his debut season, and recently booted two in the AAMI Community Series loss to the Doggies.
He’ll get busy at certain stages against the Swans at the SCG and should kick off 2025 with at least a couple of majors.
Newcombe to have 20+ disposals
Jai Newcombe finished last season with a flurry, picking up 30 or more disposals in five of his last six outings.
He also had 20 or more eight times in a row and we reckon that threshold is a certainty for tonight.
Newcombe will again play a pivotal role in the middle for the Hawks and he’ll need to be industrious against a Swans midfield unit without Gulden and Mills.
(If you were having a cheeky little multi, you could bump Newcombe up to 25+ if you wished).
Andrew Slevison
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