Training 2026 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[hr_23]

The hurricane of Hawks set to elevate midfield in 2026

“His form in the VFL last year was too good for that level.”

www.sen.com.au

David Hale

David Hale

Age

41

Ht

201cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

F/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.6

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

4.9

4star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.9

4star

No current season stats available

D

6.6

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

G

0.4

3star

on SEN yesterday

 

[To the Hawk]

The hurricane of Hawks set to elevate midfield in 2026

“His form in the VFL last year was too good for that level.”

www.sen.com.au

David Hale on SEN yesterday

Great insight.

Like many, I've felt for years now MacDonald will be our Zach Bailey. Just hasn't come together consistently yet. I think when it clicks he's going to be a star of the competition, mid/forward split.

Moore personally I don't really rate as a mid. Both he and the team function so much better when he plays high half forward.

Nairn and Dalton will be a watch to see if either can step into the high half forward role if MacDonald transitions well to midfield.

I've still not given up on Huss. Has exactly what we need, just needs to iron out the deficiencies like plenty of young players. Must be burning to break in.

 

[hr_23]

Great insight.

Like many, I've felt for years now MacDonald will be our Zach Bailey. Just hasn't come together consistently yet. I think when it clicks he's going to be a star of the competition, mid/forward split.

Moore personally I don't really rate as a mid. Both he and the team function so much better when he plays high half forward.

Nairn and Dalton will be a watch to see if either can step into the high half forward role if MacDonald transitions well to midfield.

I've still not given up on Huss. Has exactly what we need, just needs to iron out the deficiencies like plenty of young players. Must be burning to break in.

Listening to the podcast, my ears pricked up at hearing they will be getting Weddle to participate in midfield drills during pre season to see how he copes with the extra numbers being around the ball

 

[ahhhhhh]

The hurricane of Hawks set to elevate midfield in 2026

“His form in the VFL last year was too good for that level.”

www.sen.com.au

David Hale on SEN yesterday

Singling out my man Greeves a fair bit this article. Good work Ollie.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Stanley, McLaughlin and Déclassé all training today.

No Chol, Ginni, Karl, TB or Sic.
Everyone else on deck.

Newk, Day, Calsh running.

We obviously packed up the Waverley weather and have unboxed it at the KCC.

 

[earthworms]

I hope we throw all of Cam Mackenzie, Cmac, Wizard, Ginni, Moore, Nairn, HH, Greeves, Dalton, LeRay, Hill, Morrison and Anderson at the midfield and see what sticks (Ward already established) although though the club plans to play Dalton as a high forward.
I think Ginni, HH and Greeves especially are still too slow to play as mids but you never know.
Hill and Dalton could be interesting with their speed.
With the additions of Dalton, Schubert and Nairn primarily as fwds (although they may not be AFL ready), the return of Lewis as well as the development of Ramsden and Dear I can see Moore, Wiz, Cmac potentially getting more midfield time.

 

[ahhhhhh]

Stanley, McLaughlin and Déclassé all training today.

No Chol, Ginni, Karl, TB or Sic.
Everyone else on deck.

Newk, Day, Calsh running.

We obviously packed up the Waverley weather and have unboxed it at the KCC.

Not sure about Declasse's full game application. Seems to drift in and out of games a lot. Super damaging when he's on though.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Not sure about Declasse's full game application. Seems to drift in and out of games a lot. Super damaging when he's on though.

In some cases that’s just VFL footy.

 

[streetspirit]

Stanley, McLaughlin and Déclassé all training today.

No Chol, Ginni, Karl, TB or Sic.
Everyone else on deck.

Newk, Day, Calsh running.

We obviously packed up the Waverley weather and have unboxed it at the KCC.

Surprising to not see any overlook U18s in the train-ons but I guess that's where our premiership window is at - break in case of emergency mature SSP pickups that can play a short term role.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

Stanley, McLaughlin and Déclassé all training today.

No Chol, Ginni, Karl, TB or Sic.
Everyone else on deck.

Newk, Day, Calsh running.

We obviously packed up the Waverley weather and have unboxed it at the KCC.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Rookie error, why did I wear shorts? The wind and occasional shower made for a chilly morning. Footskills and goal kicking were absolutely ruined for many of our players(Sam loved it, even sledging the players "you've got wind, rain, sun...what more could you want?"), with some players missing the lot from only 35 out, due to the strength of the cross wind.

I noticed an animated and vocal assistant today from afar, but couldn't see who it was until halfway through the session....Dave Mirra. He was also running with the draftees and really pushing them later in the session, supporting and guiding them.

Lots of different running groups and drills in the back half of today's session. Gunner, Harry, Butts and Newk all doing their own separate running(200m) at stages, while the first 3 also did the majority of the main session.

JUH and Noodle didn't do much, but it was funny that one stage both of them were deep in the pocket trying to kick ground balls through the goals, curling them with not much luck. They would have done this for about 15 minutes and I'm not sure I saw many go through...and then, when a loose ball from one of the drills made its way down to the opposite pocket and was rolling towards the boundary, Nairn follows it, picks it up and nails the dribbler straight through the middle from next to the point post without fuss....Noodle just looked at him.

Dalton carried on where he left off on Day 1, lead most of the running groups he was in, and when it came to the 2 v 3 handball drills I noted his want to take the tackler on, get his hands high and deliver a handball, while some other players looked to find the space and time to bypass the tackler completely. He does everything at pace.

Greeves looks very relaxed at times when it comes to contested work, but he's such a big strong body already, when there were drills where the players were to use theirs he wasn't found wanting at all, and was outpointing more senior players at the drop of the ball. He also seemed quite determined in the running groups to not let himself trail others, keeping pace with Dimma and Harry.

Frenchy was one of a few players who seemed to still be able to nail his kicking despite the wind, with some of his passes weighted and angled to perfection in the kicking drills. Nairn another who seemed to not have too many worries with the wind.

Schuu needs to be sponsored by loctite. His mits just clamp the ball and do not let it go. It was great to see both Jack and Lewis take him aside, giving him some extra attention during a forward drill, guiding him on leading patterns and where to move. I know he's a new draftee so there will naturally be lots of guidance, but there was a lot of focus on him from both the coaches and senior players today that I noticed. It certainly seemed to me like they see big things ahead for him.

Finn did most drills, bar those with a risk of contact. Looks very fit.

One of the running drills late in the session had players run from goal square to goal square, with a break and back again. This was tough, but McLaughlin didn't look out of place at all, and was really putting his best foot forward, finishing each set in the first few players while there was a lot of grimacing and puffing happening from the majority of the senior listed players.

Players split up late, some went into the gym, some stayed out, but I noticed there was some specific contested/ground ball clearance work happening in the middle with quick hands required to clear the contested groundball, and this involved Ward, Croc, Huss, Mass and Greeves.

 

[Manila_Hawk]

Rookie error, why did I wear shorts? The wind and occasional shower made for a chilly morning. Footskills and goal kicking were absolutely ruined for many of our players(Sam loved it, even sledging the players "you've got wind, rain, sun...what more could you want?"), with some players missing the lot from only 35 out, due to the strength of the cross wind.

I noticed an animated and vocal assistant today from afar, but couldn't see who it was until halfway through the session....Dave Mirra. He was also running with the draftees and really pushing them later in the session, supporting and guiding them.

Lots of different running groups and drills in the back half of today's session. Gunner, Harry, Butts and Newk all doing their own separate running(200m) at stages, while the first 3 also did the majority of the main session.

JUH and Noodle didn't do much, but it was funny that one stage both of them were deep in the pocket trying to kick ground balls through the goals, curling them with not much luck. They would have done this for about 15 minutes and I'm not sure I saw many go through...and then, when a loose ball from one of the drills made its way down to the opposite pocket and was rolling towards the boundary, Nairn follows it, picks it up and nails the dribbler straight through the middle from next to the point post without fuss....Noodle just looked at him.

Dalton carried on where he left off on Day 1, lead most of the running groups he was in, and when it came to the 2 v 3 handball drills I noted his want to take the tackler on, get his hands high and deliver a handball, while some other players looked to find the space and time to bypass the tackler completely. He does everything at pace.

Greeves looks very relaxed at times when it comes to contested work, but he's such a big strong body already, when there were drills where the players were to use theirs he wasn't found wanting at all, and was outpointing more senior players at the drop of the ball. He also seemed quite determined in the running groups to not let himself trail others, keeping pace with Dimma and Harry.

Frenchy was one of a few players who seemed to still be able to nail his kicking despite the wind, with some of his passes weighted and angled to perfection in the kicking drills. Nairn another who seemed to not have too many worries with the wind.

Schuu needs to be sponsored by loctite. His mits just clamp the ball and do not let it go. It was great to see both Jack and Lewis take him aside, giving him some extra attention during a forward drill, guiding him on leading patterns and where to move. I know he's a new draftee so there will naturally be lots of guidance, but there was a lot of focus on him from both the coaches and senior players today that I noticed. It certainly seemed to me like they see big things ahead for him.

Finn did most drills, bar those with a risk of contact. Looks very fit.

One of the running drills late in the session had players run from goal square to goal square, with a break and back again. This was tough, but McLaughlin didn't look out of place at all, and was really putting his best foot forward, finishing each set in the first few players while there was a lot of grimacing and puffing happening from the majority of the senior listed players.

Players split up late, some went into the gym, some stayed out, but I noticed there was some specific contested/ground ball clearance work happening in the middle with quick hands required to clear the contested groundball, and this involved Ward, Croc, Huss, Mass and Greeves.

Thanks for all of the detail in your report Strapping Young Lad ! Much appreciated.

Very encouraging to hear Dalts, Schu and Nairn getting called out. And Ollie !

 

[SSSSSS]

Wiz weaving some magic with some levitation spells.

200kg in each hand fuuuuuuuark.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

I know Waverley was windy, but at least there was some reprieve with the housing around it.

Can't imagine it being too great to be training with shitty wind all year.

 

[hardway]

I know Waverley was windy, but at least there was some reprieve with the housing around it.

Can't imagine it being too great to be training with shitty wind all year.

Should get some of the left over earth from the north-east tunnel and build some wind breaks.

 

[Blackhawk42]

One of the running drills late in the session had players run from goal square to goal square, with a break and back again. This was tough, but McLaughlin didn't look out of place at all, and was really putting his best foot forward, finishing each set in the first few players while there was a lot of grimacing and puffing happening from the majority of the senior listed players.

If it's similar to one an old coach of mine used to love, this can be a killer late in a session.

We'd have a minute to get from goal post to goal post. If it took you 30 seconds you got 30 seconds rest, then on the minute you'd go again.
We'd do this for 6 minutes (so 6 efforts), then rest for 3 minutes, then do it again. Sometimes we'd only do 4 more, sometimes the full 6.

One night we did 18, with the 3 minutes each time after 6 minutes had elapsed.

Anyway, thanks for the track report!

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

One for discussion.

There’s a number of markings on the ground at KCC(ignore the straight 200m lines).

The larger white one said to be the mirror image of the MCG boundary to match the oval dimensions, then there’s one the size of Marvel…. The one with the straight edge would have to be Geelong?

 

[cryptor]

One for discussion.

There’s a number of markings on the ground at KCC(ignore the straight 200m lines).

The larger white one said to be the mirror image of the MCG boundary to match the oval dimensions, then there’s one the size of Marvel…. The one with the straight edge would have to be Geelong?

View attachment 2486766

Not much of a straight edge about Geelong since Baz joined them.

 

[MrPremiership]

One for discussion.

There’s a number of markings on the ground at KCC(ignore the straight 200m lines).

The larger white one said to be the mirror image of the MCG boundary to match the oval dimensions, then there’s one the size of Marvel…. The one with the straight edge would have to be Geelong?

View attachment 2486766

Yes,
1. MCG
2. Marvel
3. Geelong


Another reminder of how s**t that ground is

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I forgot to mention that McCabe, Mraz. Battle and Lewis all looked impressive today.
Lewis in particular looks really confident in his body. He lead out strong in one drill sliding on his knees to take a chest mark. He also kicked quite well and accounted for the cross wind.

Something seems to have clicked for McCabe. He’s much more involved in the drills and is also using his voice.

Mraz impressed me with his pace today, he looks like he’s found a heap of confidence too.

Battle is just a pro. He does everything well and trains as he plays, with intent.

 

[stevehawkington]

One for discussion.

There’s a number of markings on the ground at KCC(ignore the straight 200m lines).

The larger white one said to be the mirror image of the MCG boundary to match the oval dimensions, then there’s one the size of Marvel…. The one with the straight edge would have to be Geelong?

View attachment 2486766

There's even protruding bolts behind the goals to simulate marvel.
Sandy forward pocket to simulate the scg.

I kid, the ground looks great. It's good to get an idea of ground dimensions at your training base for an upcoming game. Do other training grounds around the league have this?

 

[TylerDurden]

I forgot to mention that McCabe, Mraz. Battle and Lewis all looked impressive today.
Lewis in particular looks really confident in his body. He lead out strong in one drill sliding on his knees to take a chest mark. He also kicked quite well and accounted for the cross wind.

Something seems to have clicked for McCabe. He’s much more involved in the drills and is also using his voice.

Mraz impressed me with his pace today, he looks like he’s found a heap of confidence too.

Battle is just a pro. He does everything well and trains as he plays, with intent.

I reckon McCabe needs to bulk up a bit. Does he look any bigger this pre season?

 

[Mitchell Madness]

They look more like match sim/in season training tops, closer to player guernseys. The one they are running around in yesterday definitely looked like they were made for summer sessions.

Havent checked out the guernseys, but the training jumpers seemed to be much more like gym clothes than standard footy jumpers. More breathable, more give/elasticity

 

[matey]

View attachment 2486737

Wiz weaving some magic with some levitation spells.

200kg in each hand fuuuuuuuark.

The Wiz is looking leaner/fitter and more defined coming back from the break ……. he will terrorise the opposition next year!

 

[stemline]

Every pre-season we have guest Box Hill players, usually they rotate getting a week each. Is Declase just one of those or has he been announced as an official 'train-on' and thus eligible for SSP?