Training Pre-Season 2026 chat

[The rabbi]

I would say in terms of numbers half but a higher percentage of their backline is missing with those players out.Polkinghorne did some great things for us overhead but when Barrass Hardwick and Battle are there can he do half of that is still what we need to see.

A competitive 3rd tall, who can mark and is skilled below his knees, makes it easier for the KPF's.
For example, think Menzel before his season ending injury in 2011 and the weight that he could take off Pods and Hawkins.
In fact, it probably creates more opportunities for smaller forwards too.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Gonna be tight for spots for the Carlton game.

Assuming Cameron, Stanley and Martin don't play that only leaves 6 players from outside last year's GF team to get to a squad of 26. Surely everyone else (eg Clark, Mullin, etc) plays. I guess we might manage somebody who played today.

Worpel, Stewart and Bruhn would be certain ins. Edwards basically has to play without Stanley.

Hoffman, Polk, Knevitt, Stevens, Wiltshire, etc need to squeeze into 2 spots. Only 1 if Cameron plays and we don't manage anyone.

 

[CHAWKS2]

Five key talking points from Hawthorn versus Geelong

Practice matches are underway!

www.sen.com.au

 

[you pick one]

Of the up-and-comers, I liked Polkinghorne, Hoffman, & Knevitt's games. Good to see Ollie Henry get on the end of a few. Apart from that, it was pretty much as expected. Given the players we had out, this was pretty much a beefed-up VFL side, rather than an AFL team. The Hawks had a few outs, too, but I don't think as many as we did. I think we got through it without injuries (I missed most of the third), and if true, that's all that matters. The guys look fit. They should be better for the run.

Fifth year on the list for Mitch he needs to take the next step now or he will find himself being challenged from beneath if he's not already.

 

[STPer18]

Stats posted on Xitter.

 

[joe444]

Back. Well, the Hawthorn members were on very good terms with themselves after quarter time. And only one difficult to find water tap for the rest of the ground? Seriously?

Apart from the obvious, the positives were:
Worpel will fit in. We'll have a midfield as deep as anyone's with, alas, not as much impact to show for it.
Edwards is intriguing. The word is that they are eager to try both him and Hoffman early this year. You can certainly see why Hoffman is in their sights.

Negatives
I suspect I'm in the minority, but Stevens has a tendency to enter contests with an eye towards avoiding contact.

A theory
We rediscovered the tagger last year. Can we be the first team to rediscover the 'swing man' (a la Nigel Smart

Nigel Smart

Age

56

Ht

188cm

Wt

91kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.7

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

1.8

4star

No current season stats available

D

19.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.2

3star

, Adam Hunter

Adam Hunter

Age

44

Ht

190cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

7.2

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.0

4star

No current season stats available

D

8.0

2star

K

3.8

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.6

4star

)? Jack Henry is such an obvious option up forward when needs require; he showed it ever so briefly again today.

 

[you pick one]

I hope the nerves never got to Tanner.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

If it is Jez then it might be the making of Neale. At some point he'll go from thinking he is good enough to knowing he is. He has all the tools to be something exceptional, might just need the responsibility to get him over the top.

Neale is no good.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Nothing took me by surprise today.

Form of players seemed to go along the expected lines.

L Hofmann has something to work with.

 

[Schmuck]

Neale is no good.

23 year old key forward with 45 games under his belt finishing 13th in the Coleman medal… no good you say?

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Looking at the AFL website, I'd hazard a guess and say the Hawks only had about a half a dozen best 22 players missing today.

View attachment 2529678

Whereas we would've had about twice that many.

View attachment 2529679

Just to play devils advocate we rested both Sicily and Moore the entire 2nd half and rotated a few senior guys off for extended periods but yes you had a fair few more out than us. We took a while to get going which was drawing some criticism on our page after the 1st quarter but I thought both teams got a decent hit out in the heat. 1 thing is for sure we can't rely on Mraz at FB just yet if Barrass or Battle miss any games this year. Neale beat him easily I thought. Dempsey looked very good for you guys in the middle when he played there.

 

[Mr Meow]

Neale is no good.

Yikes.

As an aside, do you ever post anything positive? Or even neutral?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Polk, Hofmann, and Neale mainly. Dempsey, Atkins, etc have been good too, but mostly what you expect.

Edwards shown a bit as well.

That's all pretty fair although I really liked Clark's game too he seems to be heading in the right direction. I thought henry was lively but needs to convert better.

 

[Mr Meow]

Just to play devils advocate we rested both Sicily and Moore the entire 2nd half and rotated a few senior guys off for extended periods but yes you had a fair few more out than us. We took a while to get going which was drawing some criticism on our page after the 1st quarter but I thought both teams got a decent hit out in the heat. 1 thing is for sure we can't rely on Mraz at FB just yet if Barrass or Battle miss any games this year. Neale beat him easily I thought. Dempsey looked very good for you guys in the middle when he played there.

A pre-season result will never mean anything, whether they are full squads or VFL units. Both sets supporters are just looking for some signs from kids, peripheral players or someone in a new role.

 

[cats_09]

Some photos from today

 

[MacStradbroke]

Neale is no good.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Hoffman's a dasher too. Been a good hit-out overall in my opinion.

As in

 

[The rabbi]

Polkinghorne's ability to take a mark was a highlight for me. He took more marks than any other Cat.
He could have kicked better, but the fact that he could get hold of the footy regularly was encouraging.

The Hof's 21 possessions was nice to see for a young player who is yet to debut. And I am sure that he managed a 60 meter kickout in the 2nd quarter (IIRC). But it was his dash out of defence that I really liked.

Edwards managed 10 hitouts. I am not too sure what that means considering I don't know his TOG or time in the ruck compared to Neale and De Koning. But he moves OK for a 205cm kid.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Looked gassed too, like any first year player would. It's a common misconception with the Holmes' family that their edurance is elite.

Max has said himself he's pretty average in that department. Everyone just sees his speed (particularly lazy commentators) and assumes he's an edurance beast, but they're speed athletes first and foremost.

When Max was recruited by Geelong, someone. . .Wells, or ??? development coach asked. . .”Which areas of improvement do you wish to focus upon?” Max replied: “Speed!” Development coach said he should focus upon his strengths. He had time to improve speed when he had mastered + improved his strengths to beyond elite. Lateral thinking!

 

[joe444]

Neale is no good.

ps He's a ruckman. ducks

 

[Jeff76]

Just watched the replay, Polk will play games this year, Hoff will be a player, Mullin will step up another notch, wasn’t a big fan of Worpel to be honest, gets caught easily and Neale will be a handful this year.

 

[you pick one]

Polkinghorne's ability to take a mark was a highlight for me. He took more marks than any other Cat.
He could have kicked better, but the fact that he could get hold of the footy regularly was encouraging.

The Hof's 21 possessions was nice to see for a young player who is yet to debut. And I am sure that he managed a 60 meter kickout in the 2nd quarter (IIRC). But it was his dash out of defence that I really liked.

Edwards managed 10 hitouts. I am not too sure what that means considering I don't know his TOG or time in the ruck compared to Neale and De Koning. But he moves OK for a 205cm kid.

That's what made me sit up and noticed.

 

[Sneh]

Some photos from today

Worp looking like he's been on Danger's lean juice

That red Sherrin looks delicious enough to eat

 

[The rabbi]

That's what made me sit up and noticed.

Good!
I thought that I was seeing things and said to myself, "self, wind that back a bit and have a second look".
And Lo and behold!, he really kicked the ball around 60 meters.

 

[Mr Meow]

Just watched the replay, Polk will play games this year, Hoff will be a player, Mullin will step up another notch, wasn’t a big fan of Worpel to be honest, gets caught easily and Neale will be a handful this year.

I hope in the real stuff Worpel learns to get in the mode of "first option" releasing handballs to Holmes, Smith, Dempsey, Miers, Mannagh and Humphries. Players that either give you the burst away and big metres gained at pace, or polished delivery further afield.

Worst case scenario would be him hesitating and getting caught a lot before he can bring our weapons into play.