'Long way off': Early season flag contender out of the mix says Matthew Lloyd
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd has no faith in Hawthorn anymore this season, saying they are not a premiership contender.
The Hawks are among the glut of teams fighting for a spot in the eight, with one win separating fourth and ninth currently.
They would have finished the round in fourth had they beaten Fremantle on Saturday night, but a loss has them back on the precipice, such is the nature of the season.
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James Sicily of Hawthorn. via Getty Images
Hawthorn was a popular premiership prediction coming into the season and they even found themselves flag favourites with bookmakers after the first few weeks of the season.
However with everything we have seen so far this season, Lloyd no longer rates them as a team that can win the flag in 2025.
"The problem for them, and I thought they could play off in a grand final this year, but they are a long, long way off that," Lloyd told Nine's Sunday AFL Footy Show.
"Now we're talking about whether they can make the finals versus whether they can be a premiership threat.
"All year they haven't been a threat in terms of being a premiership chance.
"They haven't quite grabbed me at all this season."
At this stage, it seems teams will need 14 wins and potentially even a strong percentage to make the eight this season and of the team in the mix, Hawthorn has clearly the hardest final month.
Hawthorn's run home. Nine
Former Richmond star Nathan Brown believes their fate might just come down to that final game against Brisbane.
"Port Adelaide, you'd think they'd win that one and you'd think they'd beat Carlton, so they'll be in a really good position ... but then it gets hard," Brown said.
"I think it will come down to that game against Brisbane at the Gabba. I think the Hawks probably need to win two of the three tough ones and they'll get in."
Hawthorn will likely get star midfielder Will Day back from injury for the final stretch of the season, which will certainly help.
