AAMI Practice Match Review: Sydney vs Hawthorn — SuperCoach 2026 Takeaways

Sixty-three thousand people would fill the SCG for a Swans finals game. Maybe four hundred watched Charlie Curnow's first competitive game in Sydney colours at a Sunday morning pre-season hit-out. It's their loss.

Sydney won 15.9 (99) to 11.12 (78), and while Hawthorn's kicking inaccuracy (12 behinds) kept the margin in check, the most significant development had nothing to do with the final score. It had to do with a 200cm key forward marking the ball at every opportunity and converting three times.

The Match in 60 Seconds

Sydney dominated the first half, with Grundy winning the ruck battle convincingly and Isaac Heeney (24 disposals) running the game from half-forward. Charlie Curnow's three goals came from disciplined set-shot situations — the kind of reliable converting that Sydney's forward line has lacked since Franklin.

Hawthorn showed quality through Newcombe (26 disposals) and two trademark goals from Nick Watson, but couldn't sustain pressure across four quarters. Tom Mitchell was managed out at half-time as a precaution — he'll be fine for Opening Round.

Three Players to Watch for Round 1

1. Charlie Curnow (FWD, $621,000) — Sydney

The numbers: 3 goals, 4 marks, 14 disposals.

The Carlton move fell through. The Gold Coast rumours faded. Curnow ended up exactly where he needed to be — in a team with elite midfield supply, coaching that maximises key forward output, and a stadium that compresses the ground and increases marking contests. Three goals in conditions that should have favoured him is just the beginning.

At $621,000 as a FWD, Curnow is the most interesting mid-price purchase of the 2026 SuperCoach season. The ceiling with Grundy's hitouts, Heeney's ball use, and Blakey's delivery is enormous.

Verdict: Buy. If Sydney's forward supply is as good as today suggested, Curnow's ceiling is 100+.

2. Brodie Grundy (RUC, $784,000) — Sydney

The numbers: 28 hitouts, 3 clearances. Controlled the ruck battle.

Grundy's first competitive game under the new ruck rules confirmed what his athleticism always suggested — this rule change suits him. The ability to leap, tap, and then immediately contest pays off for a ruckman of his aerobic capacity. At $784,000, he's delivering top-3 ruck output in Sydney's premium system.

Verdict: Top-3 RUC lock. Buy him and let him work.

3. Jai Newcombe (MID, $924,000) — Hawthorn

The numbers: 26 disposals. Hawthorn's best even in a loss.

Newcombe's consistency is remarkable. Hawthorn lost by 21 points, their midfield was outgunned, and he still finished with 26 disposals. That's the kind of individual quality that scores 100+ regardless of the team result. At $924,000 he's expensive but the floor is one of the highest in the competition.

Verdict: Premium MID. Expensive but reliable — the scoring floor justifies the price.

Other SuperCoach Notes

• Isaac Heeney (FWD, Sydney): 24 disposals. The Brownlow medallist is a lock — his production from a forward position is elite and consistent.
• Nick Blakey (DEF, Sydney): 19 disposals, constant metres gained. The delivery machine that powers Sydney's forward entries.
• Nick Watson (FWD, Hawthorn): 13 disposals, 2 goals — two pieces of brilliance from limited touches. His efficiency is remarkable.
• Angus Sheldrick (MID, Sydney): 16 disposals. The young Swans midfielder is pressing for consistent Round 1 time.
• Jack Ginnivan (FWD, Hawthorn): 11 touches. Recovering from a finger injury — the return to full match intensity will come with game time.

Injury Watch

| Player | Club | Issue | R1 Impact | |--------|------|-------|-----------| | Tom Mitchell | Hawthorn | Managed (2 quarters) | Fine — conservative | | Errol Gulden | Sydney | Light ankle concern | Monitored — no real concern |

The Bottom Line

Curnow's three-goal debut was the story, but Grundy's ruck dominance is the supercoach signal. Sydney have built a system that maximises key forward output — good hitout-to-advantage rate from Grundy, elite delivery from Blakey, and ball-movement from Heeney that creates 1v1 marking contests. Curnow thrives in that environment.

Add Newcombe to your watchlist even in defeat. That's what a genuine premium MID looks like — 26 disposals when everything around him is going wrong.

-SMc

For more pre-season analysis, see our Rookie Power Rankings Traffic Light Guide and the AAMI Community Series wrap.