Training 2026 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[TheFourPillars]

Pretty surreal that I was actually able to make it to training today. The timing of being down this way with the family visiting my sister in law in Hastings, with this morning being the travel day from St.Kilda was pretty epic.

Buying merchandise from the store and having a kick to kick with my son adjacent to the boys training was soul repairing. I lost my father a week ago, and we nearly didn't go on this trip as a result. Incredibly glad that we did.

Condolences man hope you and the family had a great day today and the Hawks family brought you some happiness

 

[earthworms]

Agree. Worpel constantly made the mistake of getting sucked in. I think our midfield structure will be better without him. Nash in particular will shine this year.

Agree, I don’t think Worpel used the ball that well, although he got a lot of it. He would get caught HTB a lot too.

 

[Gut Runner]

Croc as a mid has me excited.

Is he hard enough at the contest? Seem to recall in the past a few of his tackles being broken.

 

[Mrzohs]

I also like him out in space, but worth seeing how he goes in the guts if that's where the coaches think he could help. If it works out then it's huge.

He is a natural athlete, but wow that burst away from contest could be unstoppable if it comes off.

Mraz at chb could be the key to a permanent mid role.

I have always wondered if Massimo could thru some center bounces as well love his left foot.

 

[SSSSSS]

Is he hard enough at the contest? Seem to recall in the past a few of his tackles being broken.

Would not be surprised if a few home truths got thrown around this preseason given the way we went out last season.

 

[falcons2]

Enjoyed my first trip down to Dingleland today.
First impression was it might be a gold bar in a dog turd. This place itself magnificent but the local scenery, a wind swept wasteland. Womens field and stand with the standing room concourses at each revolutionary
On a couple of players
Gunston looks like he is 25
Lewis and Butler were cripples this time last year, both moving well
Ginnivan read the wind better than most. I get the feeling he is better than is given credit for.
Impey and Moore look like great leaders at either end of the ground, movement, direction and finding the ball.
Watson getting better, just looks so menacing and quick.
Nash is massive, man of steel. He will be leaving behind bruises every week.
Schubert and Dear look like a future pairing, both had great marking moments.
Both Mraz and Leray had some good moments winning the ball but iffy disposal. Both have a bit of Frosty about them. Hopefully mostly the good bits.
Most of the others as you'd expect.
The most interesting was the mids, in the drills and match sim in seemed to be the possibles and and the probables.
No Jai, so it was Ward, Mackenzie, Finn, Greeves, McDonald, Hustwaite, Ginnivan & Nash. All had their moments but McDonald impressed finding his way through traffic, Greeves gets to the right spots. Thought Ginnivan was the best in transition or spread as opposed to stoppage work.
That's how I saw it.

 

[play2win]

I echo previous posters regarding the most recent draft crop, I have never been so impressed with the overall haul, every single pick has potential massive upside. Very impressive

With the extra bench player and playing 2 rucks, cant imagine there would be many other teams that could match reeves as the second ruck, getting goals directly from the CB can often be the difference in a close game, would be a weapon hard to combat

 

[ReturningHawk]

The rucks expected to benefit the most from new rule change

Reilly O'Brien concedes there is still uncertainty around the AFL's new ruck rules

www.afl.com.au

Not convinced yet that the new rules will be too much of an advantage for Reeves.

Yes, he's taller than the rest but isn't exactly an athletic, jumping type. The likes of TDK and Jackson could jump all over the top of him.

Don't think you need to worry about that. I don't care who you are, it's hard make up for 10cm of height in a fair run-and-jump contest with another trained athlete. They might negate or outmanoeuvre him, but jump all over him is a stretch. It's once the ball hits the ground that they'll look for their real advantage. Meek has become a legitimate transition target and forward threat, if Reeves can simply add some marking to his game then he'll play every week.

Enjoyed my first trip down to Dingleland today.
First impression was it might be a gold bar in a dog turd. This place itself magnificent but the local scenery, a wind swept wasteland. Womens field and stand with the standing room concourses at each revolutionary
On a couple of players
Gunston looks like he is 25
Lewis and Butler were cripples this time last year, both moving well
Ginnivan read the wind better than most. I get the feeling he is better than is given credit for.
Impey and Moore look like great leaders at either end of the ground, movement, direction and finding the ball.
Watson getting better, just looks so menacing and quick.
Nash is massive, man of steel. He will be leaving behind bruises every week.
Schubert and Dear look like a future pairing, both had great marking moments.
Both Mraz and Leray had some good moments winning the ball but iffy disposal. Both have a bit of Frosty about them. Hopefully mostly the good bits.
Most of the others as you'd expect.
The most interesting was the mids, in the drills and match sim in seemed to be the possibles and and the probables.
No Jai, so it was Ward, Mackenzie, Finn, Greeves, McDonald, Hustwaite, Ginnivan & Nash. All had their moments but McDonald impressed finding his way through traffic, Greeves gets to the right spots. Thought Ginnivan was the best in transition or spread as opposed to stoppage work.
That's how I saw it.

Thanks for your insights. I reckon Connor Mac has a glint in his eye this preseason.

 

[Jen2310]

I did this as a favour to NGA Jamil Secka- who is 197cm and will play as a key defender this year- Myles Reynders and Cooper Hodge were there too- but here are some photos I took this morning.

Jamil the first photo. I’ll post the academy- FS photos first

 

[Jen2310]

The rest-

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Agree, I don’t think Worpel used the ball that well, although he got a lot of it. He would get caught HTB a lot too.

He grew a lot, his ball use going inside 50 was quality. Did lack the composure tho, and got caught a fair bit. He was limited but he did his job a fair bit. Tho this gives big opportunities to more talented guys like MacDonald, Mackenzie and Butler to step up. Ward will likely take his next step into being an A Grader with Newc.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Enjoyed my first trip down to Dingleland today.
First impression was it might be a gold bar in a dog turd. This place itself magnificent but the local scenery, a wind swept wasteland. Womens field and stand with the standing room concourses at each revolutionary
On a couple of players
Gunston looks like he is 25
Lewis and Butler were cripples this time last year, both moving well
Ginnivan read the wind better than most. I get the feeling he is better than is given credit for.
Impey and Moore look like great leaders at either end of the ground, movement, direction and finding the ball.
Watson getting better, just looks so menacing and quick.
Nash is massive, man of steel. He will be leaving behind bruises every week.
Schubert and Dear look like a future pairing, both had great marking moments.
Both Mraz and Leray had some good moments winning the ball but iffy disposal. Both have a bit of Frosty about them. Hopefully mostly the good bits.
Most of the others as you'd expect.
The most interesting was the mids, in the drills and match sim in seemed to be the possibles and and the probables.
No Jai, so it was Ward, Mackenzie, Finn, Greeves, McDonald, Hustwaite, Ginnivan & Nash. All had their moments but McDonald impressed finding his way through traffic, Greeves gets to the right spots. Thought Ginnivan was the best in transition or spread as opposed to stoppage work.
That's how I saw it.

Have heard all pre season that MacDonald has been dominant. Can say from what I’ve seen aswell that he’ll be a crucial part of the midfield group. Seems to have played and trained majority midfield this pre season.

Any news on Wards session? Have been impressed with him too, and think he’ll take another big step in 2026, could really push himself into the A Grade category.

Those two have been big, Mackenzie aswell. Been good to also have Butler improving to hopefully cement a spot, Greeves and Dalton to try fight for one.

Midfield has definitely been a focus and there’s a lot of options this time round that could make the big difference. Especially the rotational pieces; Weddle, Moore, Watson & Ginnivan.

 

[ahhhhhh]

I did this as a favour to NGA Jamil Secka- who is 197cm and will play as a key defender this year- Myles Reynders and Cooper Hodge were there too- but here are some photos I took this morning.

Jamil the first photo. I’ll post the academy- FS photos first

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Thanks Jen.

Whose NGA is Jamil in? I see he plays for Oakleigh so that would indicate yours, which raises the question why is he training with us?

 

[unitedhawk2]

The Day job: How Hawks plan to cover loss of midfield star

Josh Gabelich takes a look at how Hawthorn will fill the holes in its midfield this season

www.afl.com.au

 

[Blackhawk42]

Have heard all pre season that MacDonald has been dominant. Can say from what I’ve seen aswell that he’ll be a crucial part of the midfield group. Seems to have played and trained majority midfield this pre season.

Any news on Wards session? Have been impressed with him too, and think he’ll take another big step in 2026, could really push himself into the A Grade category.

Those two have been big, Mackenzie aswell. Been good to also have Butler improving to hopefully cement a spot, Greeves and Dalton to try fight for one.

Midfield has definitely been a focus and there’s a lot of options this time round that could make the big difference. Especially the rotational pieces; Weddle, Moore, Watson & Ginnivan.

Ward was very good, aside from one long kick off balance inside 50 during the match sim.

He was using his smarts to change angles while in possession of the footy throughout a lot of drills, without it ever necessarily looking like a crazy candy sell.

Croc had a few of those moments as well.

Both were very slippery during the European handball game portion of training.

 

[Jen2310]

Thanks Jen.

Whose NGA is Jamil in? I see he plays for Oakleigh so that would indicate yours, which raises the question why is he training with us?

Your NGA. He is from blackburn area which must be your area Pies NGAs goes through the YJFL mostly and he plays through the Eastern Football League. Unsure why he is allocated to Oakleigh though rather than say, eastern. Attends Caulfield.

 

[ppphawk]

The rest-

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Thanks for sharing.
Any chance shots of calshers new frame that we’ve heard so much about?

 

[Jen2310]

Thanks for sharing.
Any chance shots of calshers new frame that we’ve heard so much about?

I'll get back to you this afternoon once I get back from pies training and look through the photos and see if I have anything.

 

[ppphawk]

I'll get back to you this afternoon once I get back from pies training and look through the photos and see if I have anything.

Legend thanks

 

[fairdinks]

Thanks for the pics Jen.

I am trying not to get emotionally invested in us getting young hodge, but gee wiz, he has so many of his father's characteristics in how he holds himself. Heres hoping we get him.

 

[matey]

Thanks for sharing.
Any chance shots of calshers new frame that we’ve heard so much about?

This was a pic before Xmas but Calsh has definitely put on some size …… thicker around the thighs and hip area

 

[ahhhhhh]

Your NGA. He is from blackburn area which must be your area Pies NGAs goes through the YJFL mostly and he plays through the Eastern Football League. Unsure why he is allocated to Oakleigh though rather than say, eastern. Attends Caulfield.

Thanks Jen.

Is he any good?

 

[Wizzmania]

The rest-

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Who is the blond fella with the forearm tatts?

 

[hawkmang]

Who is the blond fella with the forearm tatts?

Cody Anderson AKA The Beast from the East

 

[Mojo]

Ahh, there's his dad!