Training 2026 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[Pinoy Hawk]

Ginni, Sis, Chol first official training day at the oval.






Finn looking good during the runs and surely having a big lead before others caught up.











Some midfield sessions before the hail came in.



Some good videos from HI about the race.

 

[Changa10]

First day of Summer, and we literally have to contend with hail stones…

A fairly sharp session today, although the wind once again provided a couple of challenges for the players out there.

Shortly after coming down the players split into four groups and ran around the newly placed 400 m track/line.

Nairn, Schu, Dalton and Leray were up in the top few of each of their groups however, it was the senior players and our best runners all in one group which provided the most interest.
Finn went out strong and at one point was at least 50m in front of the rest(within 20m of the run starting Sam was sledging the group “oh you all forgot about Finn, didn’t you?!”, but Ward had other ideas as the session went on and both he and Moore really went hard in the last minute or two of the running and completely swamped Finn.

Frenchy and Cody were strong in their groups, and Frenchy’s kicking in the breeze was again impressive.

Butler, Karl and Joe Webbles all do the major majority of the drills, but will also head off and do their own separate running at different points during the session. I find it interesting how players will be in the main session, then they’re off running 200m, then they’re back with the main group again.

Newc, Day, Sic, Calsh annd JUH all in the modified or rehab group, doing lots of running and generally taking it easy with the occasional kick to kick.
Newc does his own running late, lap after lap before heading in. Day does this too, but has a shorter session. Sic and Calsher buddy up and run together.

Was good to see the Chols Royce out there today as well as Ginni who looks superfit, and went out hard in the running before dropping back.
Mitch Lewis is looking lean and really focused and was really making it hard for Blankey in the forwards v defenders drills. Similarly Cholly got the upper hand on Mraz a few times, but Mraz is quite tenacious and does not give in, and was also very strong in the running.

Leray for a draftee has quite a bit of size about him and although he’s not toned or muscular, he looks like he’s not gonna take much to turn that frame muscle. His kicking off both feet is quite good and he was the leader of his running group, really pushing himself.

McLaughlin doesn’t look out of place at all, and is a very strong runner. Poor guy was paired up against Meek in the forwards v defenders drill at one point and struggle to move Meeky, which I think we all would.
DeClasse did most of the session, but also some running but himself.

I find myself watching the newer players and the draftees a lot more than the senior players so that’s why I kind of report on how they’re looking and what they are doing that is impressing.

Morrison, Hardwick, Jars, Battle, Wiz, Moore, Finn, Nash, Mass, Meek and even Gunna are all training really strongly and it looks like Jack in particular is quite keen to carry on from his 2025 year and do everything that he can over the summer to go again, which doesn’t surprise me at all but I did half expect him to be taking it quite easy at this time of the year. He’s doing everything.

Hilly bringing up the rear of the running groups with his shuffling, really only has two competitors when it comes to being last and that’s Noodle and Greeves. It was Noodles first session today, so he didn’t do the full session and also did some running by himself.

The hail(only small)came just as most of the players had finished up and gone into the gym but Frenchy, Huss, Croc, Greeves, Ward, Morrison who were still out in the middle working on ground balls and clearances, absolutely copped it, before sprinting to the shed on the wing for cover with all the assistants and then heading inside.

All players could then be seen in the indoors space, doing more ball work, contests and ground balls.

Thanks for the report SYL.

Interesting. I went to a farewell for Punky chat where Gunna & Punky spoke on Saturday night in Hobart, and he said he planned on using one of his 34-year-old cards for the running session on Monday

He did look in pretty good shape up close though. We ran into them after the event and had a nice little chat too. Two bloody good humans are Gunna & Punk! Was a good night.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Thanks for the report SYL.

Interesting. I went to a farewell for Punky chat where Gunna & Punky spoke on Saturday night in Hobart, and he said he planned on using one of his 34-year-old cards for the running session on Monday

He did look in pretty good shape up close though. We ran into them after the event and had a nice little chat too. Two bloody good humans are Gunna & Punk! Was a good night.

Gunners has another cracking year in him IMO he's body is in great shape right now. Don't expect any sort of decline if he's effectiveness isn't as prevalent it's because the others around him have stepped up to support him.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

The Reeves brothers - Ned and Oleg - bringing up the rear in the running again. Hilly doesn't seem to have anything like Brad's running ability.

Yeah, different players completely.

Our Hilly just shuffles.

 

[hardway]

Schubert is going to be imposing when he becomes a adult and fills out.

 

[burner1]

Thanks for the report.

How’s Nairn looking in the drills? Outside running any of the draftees really standing out?

The wind has been mentioned in every report - is it really an issue?

 

[ahhhhhh]

Thanks for the report.

How’s Nairn looking in the drills? Outside running any of the draftees really standing out?

The wind has been mentioned in every report - is it really an issue?

Thank the Sudden Stratospheric Warming event for our wintery conditions and strong westerlies. It won't be like this every spring, as you can guess this weather pattern is what we'd expect in winter so if the wind is an issue now it will be during the depths of the season.

 

[Steven Tyler]

Thanks for the report.

How’s Nairn looking in the drills? Outside running any of the draftees really standing out?

The wind has been mentioned in every report - is it really an issue?

Must be, or it wouldn’t always be mentioned

 

[SSSSSS]

Think a lot of Ollie's issues can be fixed with some conditioning. Looks to be carrying a few too many kegs.

Plenty of draftees come with some puppy fat on them but he looks like he is carrying a bit more than that.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Gunners has another cracking year in him IMO he's body is in great shape right now. Don't expect any sort of decline if he's effectiveness isn't as prevalent it's because the others around him have stepped up to support him.

With Gunners it's all going to come down to how his back holds up. He's always been fit (he's built like a greyhound) it's his back that's stuffed him up in the past.

The fact he didn't miss a single game last year and he finished the season so strong makes me think he is in for another ripper year in 2026 (we are so lucky to get to watch a football artist do his thing).

 

[Cyril_Grip]

Think a lot of Ollie's issues can be fixed with some conditioning. Looks to be carrying a few too many kegs.

Plenty of draftees come with some puppy fat on them but he looks like he is carrying a bit more than that.

Yep, wouldn't be the first draftee to need some miles in the legs. Gee he looks strong though, he'd be pretty scary in some of those one on one wrestling drills they do on the pre season camp.

BTW Wardy looks insanely fit. Would love for him to step up again next season, showed some great signs this year. Genuinely excited about where the natural improvement and obvious hard work will take this team next season.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

The Reeves brothers - Ned and Oleg - bringing up the rear in the running again. Hilly doesn't seem to have anything like Brad's running ability.

I'll cut Ned some slack given he's 7ft tall

Oleg just a young pup as well, I won't make any harsh judgements.

Bit worried about Hill though, that's going to be a tough hurdle for him to jump to play AFL.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Think a lot of Ollie's issues can be fixed with some conditioning. Looks to be carrying a few too many kegs.

Plenty of draftees come with some puppy fat on them but he looks like he is carrying a bit more than that.

Also lots of muscle looking at him. Need to strip the noob gains back

 

[Roddy]

Seriously, if Day plays 15+ games plus finals, and Wardy makes a similar incremental improvement as he did this year, our midfield 'problems' are on their way towards being solved in '26. Then an improvement from someone like Frenchie would just be la creme on top.

 

[SSSSSS]

Also lots of muscle looking at him. Need to strip the noob gains back

Yeh he looks like he's carrying more weight than Cholly!

Kid must love the gym.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Thanks for the report.

How’s Nairn looking in the drills? Outside running any of the draftees really standing out?

The wind has been mentioned in every report - is it really an issue?

Nairn is impressing. He has class with his footskills, always up near the front in the running and looks like he is going to be a dangerous half forward.

 

[Yardie]

I'll cut Ned some slack given he's 7ft tall

Oleg just a young pup as well, I won't make any harsh judgements.

Bit worried about Hill though, that's going to be a tough hurdle for him to jump to play AFL.

I don't care what nickname the players give him. I'm all for this one!

 

[Newmo89]

Track watch: SSP train-on, young midfielder impress at Hawthorn

The Hawks’ full contingent of talent were back on the track on Monday.

www.zerohanger.com

 

[CHUBBSS]

Nairn is impressing. He has class with his footskills, always up near the front in the running and looks like he is going to be a dangerous half forward.

List pressure has ramped up, very exciting

 

[rei154]

Very interested in how Mraz looks for the track watchers currently?

 

[Mrzohs]

Great start Wardy i got a feeling he is really going to push for the #1 midfielder claims.

 

[moginie]

Great start Wardy i got a feeling he is really going to push for the #1 midfielder claims.

Absolutely. No one standing in his way. We'll see a better player this season.

A bit like Worpel when Mitchell broke his leg.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Nairn is impressing. He has class with his footskills, always up near the front in the running and looks like he is going to be a dangerous half forward.

Very pleasing to hear. Does he look to have speed?

Your thoughts on Schubert? Raw and a way off or closer physically than expected?

 

[earthworms]

Think a lot of Ollie's issues can be fixed with some conditioning. Looks to be carrying a few too many kegs.

Plenty of draftees come with some puppy fat on them but he looks like he is carrying a bit more than that.

Schoolies just finished who can blame him for having a few beers