Hawthorn set for prime time boost in 2025 after two years off Broadway

Hawthorn haven’t hosted a Friday night match in over five years, but that’s set to change next season. JAY CLARK has the details, plus the club set for fewer prime time games.

Hawthorn will push to make its long-awaited return to prime time next season as one of the most exciting and watchable teams in the competition.

Sam Mitchell’s men are one of the hottest teams in the competition with its young and brash team gunning for a finals berth after winning eight of their past nine games.

The excitement surrounding the club’s game style and flamboyant forwards in particular is certain to see the club reinstated to prime time slots on Thursday and Friday nights next year after two years off Broadway.

The Hawks have not played on a stand-alone Thursday or Friday night slot since 2022 when the Hawks lost to Western Bulldogs in their only marquee match of the season in Round 15.

Remarkably, Sam Mitchell’s men have not played a Friday night home game since 2019 when the Hawks toppled Collingwood in Round 16.

The Hawks have been going about their business away from prime time slots. Picture: Getty Images

But club talks with the league about their fixture requests for next year are already underway and the Hawks will put forward a strong case to return to the main stage in 2025 as the league considers adding more Thursday night games into the fixture next season.

Melbourne loom as a club which could receive less prime time slots next year after receiving six Thursday and Friday night spots this year, but could miss finals.

The Demons’ clash against GWS Giants in cold conditions at the MCG on Saturday night attracted only 16,246 fans.

Essendon legend Tim Watson said on SEN the lowly crowd figure was a “massive disappointment” while former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon said it was “not a great look”.

GWS Giants’ defender Sam Taylor said “it was a little bit (disappointing)” because “it was quite low for the MCG, for two (hopeful) top eight sides having a crack at finals.”

The Hawks are on the rise as former Collingwood cult figure Jack Ginnivan, top draft pick Nick Watson, and high-flying ex-Sun Mabior Chol have thrilled crowds in recent months.

And the club is poised to become one of the major players in this year’s trade period as the Hawks eye gun Saints’ defender Josh Battle and West Coast stopper Tom Barrass to bolster the back half.

The Hawks have been snubbed in the fixture over the past two years as the club embarked on a rebuild following a glorious run of four premierships under Alastair Clarkson.

The club was handed 11 Sunday games this year, including last weekend’s thumping win over Adelaide by 66 points at Adelaide Oval, and their next three games.

Hawthorn are right in the mix for finals footy. Picture: Getty Images

The ninth-placed Hawks take on GWS Giants (Manuka Oval) in Round 21, Carlton (MCG) Round 22 and Richmond (MCG) in Round 23 on Sundays, before a clash against North Melbourne (Launceston) to help secure a spot in the eight.

But the club will ask for its first Friday night home game in six years next season as well as its traditional blockbuster Easter Monday clash against Geelong and possibly a Round 1 opener against arch rival Essendon.

Next year will be the 40th anniversary of the 1985 Grand Final between Essendon and Hawthorn which the Bombers won by 78 points as Essendon went back-to-back.

The Hawks may have to win three of their last four games to secure their first finals berth in six years this year in a major triumph for Mitchell after starting the season with five-straight losses.