Training 2026 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[streetspirit]

Everyone accounted for today apart from Ginni and Chol.

A nice warm day to kickstart the preseason, and a great introduction for some of the draftees.

What's Dingley like for general public access to the training areas; any idea if they will they keep letting Joe Public waltz in to watch preseason?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

What's Dingley like for general public access to the training areas; any idea if they will they keep letting Joe Public waltz in to watch preseason?

There’s lots of access, I doubt they will lock the gates very often.

Quite a few people there today.

 

[TylerDurden]

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

He’s looking sharp.

 

[Pinoy Hawk]

Dalton just knocked off Weds in the 2km TT.

Wow.

 

[fairdinks]

And without knowing specific times, "alarm bells" is not a valid conclusion...

I guess the true analysis is how the players perform against their previous PB's, particularly for early pre-season sessions.

That would be interesting. Very early days, but disappointed to hear Hilly still has work to do. Is it that he only has burst speed but limited endurance or not working hard enough?

 

[ahhhhhh]

Any word on players at training vying for SSP spots?

 

[I got the outside word]

Dalton just knocked off Weds in the 2km TT.

Wow.

Was it close?

 

[butlers hawks]

Promising signs for the youngster but alarm bells for our senior players

Holy Overreaction Batman!

 

[Rushed_Behind]

He’s looking sharp.

Dylan or Will?

 

[dermott]

Dalton ran a better 2 km time at the draft combine than Weddle did in his year so it is probably not all that surprising. Great to see however. The coach may have to hold Dalton back a bit in his first preseason as he appears to have an injury history.
He won’t fail from lack of effort however.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Any word on players at training vying for SSP spots?

None

 

[OnTheRocks]

Dalton just knocked off Weds in the 2km TT.

Wow.

Weds trade value just plummeted

 

[Simon Crawshay]

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You can almost tell from Wedds expression he is thinking “WTF did this bloody kid come from!”

Gotta say Dalton is looking super fit, he’s got an AFL body already which is a real testament to his dedication at such a young age.

I said previously we have a spot for a high possession, hard running mid in our rotation. He’s not without a sneaky chance of making a debut this year if he keeps this up.

 

[oscarthegrouch]

Anyone who was there what was the order for the running? How’d wardy, weds, all the rookies, and the big fellas go ie Mitch Lewis, gunners, calsh ect go

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Weds trade value just plummeted

Unreasonable Hawks hold Weddle to ransom.

 

[CD Xbow]

Unreasonable Hawks hold Weddle to ransom.

That's cruel. Remind me never to get on your bad side.

 

[Atch]

Dalton ran a better 2 km time at the draft combine than Weddle did in his year so it is probably not all that surprising. Great to see however. The coach may have to hold Dalton back a bit in his first preseason as he appears to have an injury history.
He won’t fail from lack of effort however.

All he has to do is stay away from the 300kg front squats.

 

[Newmo89]

Track watch: Draftee takes out time trial as Hawks forwards prepare for midfield moves

Hawthorn were back on the track on Monday at their new facility, with senior players and fresh faces making an appearance.

www.zerohanger.com

 

[Mercy Seat]

Promising signs for the youngster but alarm bells for our senior players

White flag being waved 15 minutes into the first training session has to be a record, even for BF.

 

[kazzooka]

I guess the true analysis is how the players perform against their previous PB's, particularly for early pre-season sessions.

That would be interesting. Very early days, but disappointed to hear Hilly still has work to do. Is it that he only has burst speed but limited endurance or not working hard enough?

Hill needs to transform his body from a Rugby League body to an AFL one. He has spent many years training for a different game so needs to get used to longer distance running at speed rather than jogging along and then burst running.

It's day 1 of his 2nd AFL pre-season so come March I expect him to be in a much better position to start impacting at VFL level much more.

 

[matey]

Popped in today to have a look at Dingley for the first time (very impressive) and the newbies. A lot of running and Dalton was a standout. He would have beaten Forrest Gump! He is such a competitor and will bring a high level of training standards across the group …… he just attacks everything at 110%. Only problem the coaches will have is pulling him back. I thought Cam Nairn also did well for his first time trying to keep up with the group of Moore/Finn/Croc/Ward/Mass before he stopped early as did the other newbies. LeRay and Greeves were towards the back so yes they have plenty of work to do. LeRay looks a good size and needs plenty of conditioning to get some muscle definition happening. Schubert was in the other group and did well seeing him live he’s a good mover quite athletic for his size.

Yes the central district boys look close. A couple of times while in close vicinity they high-fived each other giggling like little kids in a candy store. Hard to see everyone as groups were breaking up across the ground but they all look like decent kicks. Nairn makes a nice sound when he kicks the footy. Greeves pulled off some beautiful kicks in congestion. He looks like a really good decision maker. Once he raises his eyes and sees an option he doesn’t muck around and pulls the trigger. I liked his attitude as well when he would sit out he was very vocal/supportive of teammates. Geez he looks like a Cats type/player with that head band on.

At one stage when Nairn/Shubert/Dalton/LeRay/Reeves were together Sam walked up and said, “How are the kidlets going? Later I’m going to ask you what you learnt today and you better have an answer!”

I really hope we see the Wiz get more time in the midfield. A few times in congestion the way he runs/works through his gears is beautiful to watch. Frenchie also looked good ….. he has such a good first/second sidestep it gives him that extra time to get rid of it. I really hope we see this a lot more next season. Ward’s short kicks are precision like reminds me so much of Merrett ….. hope he goes another level. Great seeing Finn, Day, Morrison out there after their injuries.

And re Hill today. He was ill. Heard him talking to one of the coaches about not eating well last couple of days and having stomach issues. On one of the laps he looked like he was going to throw up so I would not read into his running today.

 

[kazzooka]

Track watch: Draftee takes out time trial as Hawks forwards prepare for midfield moves

Hawthorn were back on the track on Monday at their new facility, with senior players and fresh faces making an appearance.

www.zerohanger.com

Good to hear CMac is doing extra stoppage work. We've tried a few times to get him into the middle but his positioning seems to let him down in there so far and it doesn't last long. If he can get a handle on the structures and stoppage work he'll be a real weapon in there. He's a classy player, but as a mid you need to be in the right spot always or the opposition walk it out.

 

[Atch]

Popped in today to have a look at Dingley for the first time (very impressive) and the newbies. A lot of running and Dalton was a standout. He would have beaten Forrest Gump! He is such a competitor and will bring a high level of training standards across the group …… he just attacks everything at 110%. Only problem the coaches will have is pulling him back. I thought Cam Nairn also did well for his first time trying to keep up with the group of Moore/Finn/Croc/Ward/Mass before he stopped early as did the other newbies. LeRay and Greeves were towards the back so yes they have plenty of work to do. LeRay looks a good size and needs plenty of conditioning to get some muscle definition happening. Schubert was in the other group and did well seeing him live he’s a good mover quite athletic for his size.

Yes the central district boys look close. A couple of times while in close vicinity they high-fived each other giggling like little kids in a candy store. Hard to see everyone as groups were breaking up across the ground but they all look like decent kicks. Nairn makes a nice sound when he kicks the footy. Greeves pulled off some beautiful kicks in congestion. He looks like a really good decision maker. Once he raises his eyes and sees an option he doesn’t muck around and pulls the trigger. I liked his attitude as well when he would sit out he was very vocal/supportive of teammates. Geez he looks like a Cats type/player with that head band on.

At one stage when Nairn/Shubert/Dalton/LeRay/Reeves were together Sam walked up and said, “How are the kidlets going? Later I’m going to ask you what you learnt today and you better have an answer!”

I really hope we see the Wiz get more time in the midfield. A few times in congestion the way he runs/works through his gears is beautiful to watch. Frenchie also looked good ….. he has such a good first/second sidestep it gives him that extra time to get rid of it. I really hope we see this a lot more next season. Ward’s short kicks are precision like reminds me so much of Merrett ….. hope he goes another level. Great seeing Finn, Day, Morrison out there after their injuries.

And re Hill today. He was ill. Heard him talking to one of the coaches about not eating well last couple of days and having stomach issues. On one of the laps he looked like he was going to throw up so I would not read into his running today.

Great report!

 

[HR Roughnstuf]

Dalton just knocked off Weds in the 2km TT.

Wow.

I felt it move