Two of the all-time prelims have sparked plenty of fallout – from the remarkable umpiring, to the revenge tour 2027’s new flag favourite will be seeking.
Plus much more as the big issues from the Preliminary Finals are analysed in Foxfooty.com.au’sTalking Points!
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HOW HAWKS CAN LEARN FROM LIONS IN ‘BITTERSWEET’ REALITY AS NEXT MOVES LOOM
For the second consecutive season, it’s agonising preliminary final heartbreak for Hawthorn.
This year’s elimination is more debilitating than last year’s, given the circumstances, but it nevertheless shunts the Hawks back to the drawing board.
They can take a page out of the Lions’ book, though, after Chris Fagan’s club failed in six finals before finally breaking through to a grand final berth in 2023.
And even in that September campaign three years ago, Brisbane fell over at the final hurdle against Collingwood. The rest, since then, is history.
It’s the sort of trajectory the Hawks hope they’re also on as they strive for a final-four breakthrough under Sam Mitchell, who just capped his fifth season — and third finals campaign — in charge.
After a barnstorming fourth-quarter comeback, Hawthorn had the back-to-back reigning premiers on the ropes at the MCG before a controversial late free kick paid against Jarman Impey tipped Saturday’s prelim on its head.
It’s that indescribably small margin between finals despair and elation that leaves the Hawks with a “bittersweet” feeling.
“It hurts and it burns!” | 11:12
“They know that they’ll grow, but this was a team that had (the Lions) at their mercy with 40 seconds to go, and they would have been into a home ground final against a team in Fremantle that has not been here for 13 years,” Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph said post-game on Saturday night.
“So, that’s the challenge, but obviously the upside is that, as Rob McCartney, the club’s football boss, told me pre-match: ‘Even if we lose this game, we’re learning the lessons of Brisbane’.
“Brisbane had so many finals losses … and everyone thought they would never get there.
“Hawthorn, in this premiership build, is only three seasons in, but the likes of Watson are only three years into their own build as well.
“And so, they just know that if they keep knocking on this door, that at some stage it will crack open for a team that has won four flags since 2008.”
And that door of premiership contention is set to be smashed off its hinges following the Hawks’ looming offseason moves.
Because now, like 16 other AFL clubs, Hawthorn moves into acquisition mode.
Spearhead goalkicker Ben King is set to arrive as a restricted free agent, while Essendon ex-captain Zach Merrett is set to join him as marquee additions in the player movement period.
King is set to sign with Hawthorn on a seven-year deal worth over $9 million across its lifetime, joining a first-choice forward line that already boasts Jack Gunston, Mitch Lewis and Mabior Chol.
The Suns are expected to land Pick 7 as free agency compensation, with the Hawks holding their natural first-rounder and three second-rounders to try and deal with the Bombers for Merrett.
Injured midfielder Conor Nash will also act as a new recruit next year after missing close to two-thirds of this season.
Lions survive thriller to stay alive | 04:43
The uncertainty remains around the future of ascending key forward Calsher Dear, who hasn’t yet made a call amid contract offers from Hawthorn and Melbourne, and interest also from Collingwood and Geelong.
“Ben King comes in, seven-year deal, that’s a certainty it will get done. Pick seven will be the compensation pick that will be the centrepiece of that,” Ralph said on Fox Footy.
“And then Zach Merrett … It’ll be a four-year deal on $4 million. It will effortlessly get done.
“If Pick 7 is the centrepiece for that King deal, well, they’ve already got this year’s first rounder and then three second-rounders, even before you start thinking about ‘27 and ‘28 first-rounders.
“And then even if they lose Calsher Dear, and they’re not prepared to lose him, but he is obviously being offered longer-term deals (including at the Demons), they’ll keep Noah Mraz, they’ll keep Aidan Schubert, and we know they have so many young kids coming through.
“And then they’ll get to an off-season contract extension for Will Day, who’s been keen to park that contract but in the off-season, as Rob McCartney says, (they’re) very confident that there will be a long-term extension coming there.”
THE MOMENT UMPIRING FINALLY WAS ‘AS GOOD AS IT’S EVER BEEN’
Two years ago, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon famously said the league’s umpiring was “as good as it’s ever been”.
The comment did not go down well. But there’s a saying we like about making predictions in sport.
Never wrong, just early.
Because Dillon was absolutely right… if he’s purely talking about how the umpires handled the final 90 seconds of Brisbane’s epic preliminary final win over Hawthorn.
Bottles thrown at umpires post match | 01:21
Three critical decisions were made in the lead-up to Hugh McCluggage’s game-winning goal and, with a partisan Hawks crowd cheering the other way, they were not easy calls to make.
Because while calling free kicks in the heat of the moment isn’t brave when compared to many others in society, it was brave in an umpiring sense to blow the whistle – upholding the rules at a time when fans so often want the whistle put away.
First, there was the Mitch Lewis deliberate out of bounds call, when the Hawks key forward failed to take possession of a bouncing ball down the Shane Warne Stand wing from Jack Ginnivan.
The ball pinged off Lewis’ hands; and it’s not so much that he did anything wrong, but he proved unable to take possession meant the free kick was paid against Ginnivan.
It followed an adjustment to the last disposal rule earlier this season, which prevented players from circumventing the rule by touching a disposal just before it went out.
“It’s no consolation for Hawthorn but until round 3 Mitch Lewis could take the ball over the line like that in the last 90 seconds,“ the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph tweeted on Saturday night.
“Then players were diving for the line just to get a fingernail on the ball to avoid a lasso free kick.
“So the AFL changed the rule mid-season to ensure a player had to attempt to bring the ball back in rather than escorting it out.
“Unfortunately for the Hawks it reared its head in the dying seconds.”
Lewis: ‘That’s the wrong call’ | 01:02
Moments later close to the centre of the ground, Dayne Zorko was collected high by Josh Weddle.
And while the contact wasn’t much, it was definitely there, with the ball being called back from Brisbane’s forward 50 to the confusion of those in attendance.
That was followed by the most dramatic, and important, call in recent footy history.
Collingwood has made an art of avoiding holding-the-ball free kicks under coach Craig McRae but perhaps Sam Mitchell (who had interest from the Pies before McRae was hired, leading to the Hawks pushing out Alastair Clarkson and hiring Mitchell) hasn’t done the same work at training.
So when Jarman Impey took possession inside the defensive 50 and was immediately tackled by Hugh McCluggage, Impey and his teammates failed to cover him up.
He wasn’t gang-tackled to force a stoppage. And he didn’t dispose of the ball, despite having just one arm pinned.
Holding the ball. Free kick Lions.
“The biggest call you have ever seen!” | 00:41
Had it not been paid, the Hawks were likely to advance to a Grand Final. And with it paid, the Lions were likely to advance – with McCluggage still needing to kick truly under immense pressure to ensure it.
With all of that context it was one of the best umpiring decisions in footy history. Brisbane would have been robbed if it had been missed.
And, for what it’s worth, the biggest (and perhaps only) umpiring mistake in the last five minutes of the prelim actually went Hawthorn’s way.
That was when Harris Andrews was pushed in the back as he went into the pack, attempting to stop Mitch Lewis’ incredible contested mark from which he goalled to put the Hawks up with minutes left.
We want the best of the best involved in the biggest games, and from an umpiring perspective, that’s exactly what we got. They deserve credit.
‘No team deserved to lose tonight’ | 11:09
‘KEY PIECES OF THE PUZZLE’: DOCKERS STARS PROVE WHY YOU GO ALL IN
There’s a reason you go all in on stars during the trade and free agency period.
Luke Jackson and Shai Bolton showed why.
The star Dockers recruits delivered for Justin Longmuir’s side as match winners on the preliminary final stage to lead the club to second ever grand final.
Jackson, the highest-rated player on the ground against Sydney, booted two goals with 15 disposals, eight score involvements and 27 hit-outs in an intriguing ruck battle with Brodie Grundy.
It made Jackson the first player record 15-plus disposals, 10-plys hit-outs to advantage and two-plus goals in a prelim.
Bolton, Freo’s second highest rated player, kicked two goals from 20 touches, eight tackles and seven score involvements as one of the prime movers through the midfield that turned the game.
The dual All-Australian and two-time premiership Tiger was particularly crucial in Freo’s fourth quarter comeback, with his player rating double the next best in the period.
“This is why (Bolton) was brought to the club… he’s a match winner,” Saints great Leigh Montagna told Fox Footy.
“What he was able to do in the fourth quarter, to be able to turn the tide and the weight of numbers in the end, it was just too much.”
Freo comeback sinks Swans in epic prelim | 03:21
All up, the Dockers gave away five first-round picks (though got one back in the Bolton deal) to secure both players; Jackson in 2022 and Bolton in 2024.
Fair to say they’d do both deals again in a heartbeat … and even quicker than that if the Dockers salute next Saturday.
“They are full club things, premierships,” Kangaroos legend David King said.
“This is a club that’s gone out and targeted (Luke) Jackson and we’ve seen what he’s doing this year and tonight, and targeted Bolton – and we see the impact when you have to have it.
“It’s a full club achievement to get to a grand final.”
Dockers list boss David Walls deserves so much credit for his leading role in Freo’s rise.
As important as nailing some of those high draft picks was in the years the club was down the ladder, identifying the right talent to recruit from other clubs — and securing them — is equally vital.
Longmuir praises battle-hardened Dockers | 12:39
It’d be remiss not to mention Jordan Clark as another key recruit that only cost the Dockers Pick 22, while the likes of Judd McVee, Maxon Cox, Jaeger O’Meara and Jeremy Sharp were also brought in from other clubs.
“You have to identify what you’re missing as a club and what you need to take those next steps to get to where you want to go,” Hawthorn champion Jason Dunstall said.
“It’s easier to identify than actually fill the needs, but they’ve gone out and found some really key pieces to their puzzle in the players you’re talking about in Jackson and Bolton in particular.
“They’ve given them an enormous boost.
“They’ve handpicked players that play specific roles and its had a huge impact.
“They’ve set themselves up.”
Young nails it from the sideline! | 00:28
Jackson was full of praise for his fellow recruit on Friday night.
“That’s why we get players like that to your footy club that are a point of difference,” Jackson said of Bolton.
“I don’t think there’s another player out there like Bolts to be honest.
“We can chuck him in the middle for two minutes and might change the manner of the game.
“He had impact up forward, taken some crucial marks, he’s up there with one of my favourites teammates. I love playing with him.”
PULLMAN FIVE WILL ‘NEVER BE FORGIVEN’ IN BRUTAL REALITY CHECK
An AFL legend has declared Sydney’s ‘Pullman Five’ will “never be forgiven” for compromising the club’s 2026 premiership drive amid questions of their futures.
Sydney was brave in its fade-out preliminary final loss to Fremantle but ultimately ran out of steam and didn’t have the starpower to match the Dockers when the game was on the line.
Dean Cox’s undermanned side galvanised in the aftermath of the Pullman scandal, which saw Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice stood down for the rest of the season, including an improbable qualifying final win over Brisbane.
They played with a renewed defensive intent and passion that at times made you think it didn’t matter who was wearing the Swans guernsey with the complete buy in across the board.
But as brave as they were, that can only get you so far. You still need the stars and personnel to match and deliver in big moments.
Suspended Swans expected for pre-season | 00:53
“I just want to commend the Swans, the players that are out there. They could not have given any more. They would be that proud of the players that are out there. But then also now that’s where the fallout’s going to be big,” Bombers great Matthew Lloyd said on 3AW post-match.
“That’s where it does turn and (teammates) say: ‘You cost us. We were good enough, we were more than good enough’.
“A lot of people say: ‘Can they ever play for the Swans again because of this?’. They’ll never be forgiven because (premierships are) that hard to win, and they were there. They should have been there next week.
“Suddenly, blame will start. For the players that are out there, the staff, you can see they are distraught. Five goals four to one behind in the last quarter.”
Cox rues missed chances in Freo defeat | 09:52
Those five players, specifically Heeney, Warner and Blakey, would’ve sure been handy in that 12-point prelim loss to Freo.
No doubt Swans would be left pondering: ‘Imagine if we had Heeney and Warner in those pivotal midfield contests?’
Or: ‘We could’ve used a Blakey dash across halfback during those key moments in the fourth quarter’
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham sensationally said last month the Pullman incident “torpedoed” their season.
While most Swans fans would’ve been filled with pride with how their side responded, the comment might’ve ultimately rung true.
“This is a campaign that was lost from a Sydney point of view … on August 16, not September 18,” dual premiership Kangaroo David King said on Fox Footy post-match.
“They were undermanned in the middle … at times in the last quarter, you felt for Sydney.
“They just couldn’t cover the ground.”
“Absolutely floored!” Neale down early! | 00:38
BETTER THAN CYRIL? STUNNING WIZARD LANDMARK LAID BARE
Outshone by the outcome of Saturday’s chaotic final quarter was Nick Watson’s unforgettable, landmark performance.
The 21-year-old always figured to have a big say in proceedings, but few would have predicted a career-high six-goal haul in a preliminary final.
And if not for a Brisbane heist at the death, the Wizard would have owned ‘matchwinner’ status after a spellbinding stint.
Irresistible at forward-50 stoppage and groundball, Watson kicked a staggering 6.2 from 16 disposals — 12 contested — including 11 score involvements and five clearances.
He finished the game as the highest-rated player on the ground.
“You’ve got to keep an eye on and just isolate and watch this guy and what he does around the footy, because at top pace when he gets it, it’s incredible what he does,” Geelong champion Tom Hawkins said post-match on Fox Footy.
“But it’s his work and diligence away from the footy that allows these opportunities. Yes, hard-working, seems to be in the right spots at the right times, but it’s off the back of a great footy nous.
“He is a marvel to watch, and one of the most exciting players — even at his young age — that I think I’ve watched live.
“He’s just so dynamic.”
Nick Watson’s late wizardry | 00:34
It left plenty coming away from the match wondering how high the former No.5 pick’s ceiling is.
In just his third season, Watson kicked a staggering 63 goals from 23 games in 2026, with his by-far career-high average of 2.7 majors per game earning him his maiden All-Australian blazer as the competition’s small-forward king.
And according to four-time Hawthorn premiership star Jordan Lewis, he’s already surpassed a legendary Hawk in at least that facet of the game.
“You (Hawkins) asked me about Cyril; I think he’s probably a better scorer than Cyril,” Lewis, a former teammate of Rioli’s, said on Fox Footy.
“Cyril did all these things up and around the ground, but he probably didn’t have the scoring prowess that Watson has.
“He’s kicked six, and he’s kicked a couple of fives (on other occasions)… if you (get) six goals (out of Watson), you think Hawthorn probably wins the game.
“There were a couple of really difficult set shots, and long set shots — but he’s had a great year. He’s had a really strong season.”
In his third AFL season in 2010, Rioli kicked 27 goals from 20 games. He never eclipsed 50 majors in a season, with his career-high tally of 47 in 2016 coming closest.
That was his third-last AFL season. Watson kicked 57 regular-season goals from 22 games in year three.
The silky skills and elusiveness of Rioli are hard to top, but as a devastating scorer and damaging pack-rover, Watson may have already moved past the four-time flag-winner on pure impact.
McKenna emulates Messi against Hawks | 00:27
