King: Similarities between 2025 Hawks and 2023 premiers

Can Hawthorn of 2025 recreate the magic Collingwood conjured in their premiership-winning 2023 season?

David King is one who can see some genuine similarities between the two teams.

Those resemblances start with ball movement with both sides possessing some elite kickers which creates slick transition of the footy.

Much like the Magpies of 2023, King watches Hawthorn’s best kicks in Massimo D’Ambrosio, James Sicily, Will Day and Karl Amon, among others, leading their forwards to the ball instead of the other way around.

“Are they the Pies of 2023?” King asked on SEN Breakfast.

“They’re going to come in with this ball movement pattern that just looks ridiculous.

“The kickers are everywhere. They don't kick to the lead, they kick and make you lead. They're unbelievable with the way they move the ball.”

Another likeness King sees is that they don’t necessarily dominate off clearance but put teams to the sword once the ball gets turned over at half-back.

The other obvious comparison is with the small forward groups and King foresees Hawthorn’s current group of Nick Watson, Dylan Moore, Connor MacDonald and Jack Ginnivan having a huge say in where the Hawks go in 2025.

“The midfield is just getting better and better, and tougher and tougher,” King said.

“I really like the way they play. They get you on ball movement, not necessarily clearances,

“Forward of the ball was good to see the smalls back in form after a pretty quiet week.”

Hawthorn will hope to go 3-0 when they face Carlton at the MCG on Thursday.