Training 2025 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[TylerDurden]

Ready for the melts, when Geelong slap 10 on us in the first qtr on their shit hole dung heap in a praccy game.

Wont be reading too much into the result, but if it goes this way, melts will ensue.

 

[SSSSSS]

I reckon Newk ‘resting’ forward could cause some opposition heartache too

I think Newk is a Riccuito clone.

If he can go from kicking 10+ goals a season and closer to 15-20 watch out.

 

[KermitJagger]

Last year our midfield was dominating with Newk, Worpel and Day in the run home. Yet into the run to the finals the 'Brains Trust' kept saying 'The one issue with the Hawks don't have any super stars in the midfield'. It took for Newcombe to completely rip apart the Bulldogs in the finals (after doing it many times during the year) for some to finally say "Newcombe is pretty good actually...".

Not only is our midfield good, the size of having Meek, Newcombe, Nash, Worpel, Day, combined with our running power which is elite, is a really daunting mix for the opponents. Worpel is much stronger than he looks, and Day is as tough as nails, and the others are monsters but also athletic. After the Collingwood game the media went hysterical with our celebrations, Ginnivan and the 'Hollywood Hawks', but we witnessed a mix of ruthless toughness at the contest in the wet, and incredible outside run, to completely smash Collingwood. That game was a sign of the longer term potential of this group, in probably of the most tough and skilful wet weather games I've seen from a Hawk's side. Yet the media were more interested in what happened between the ball being passed back to the umpire after a goal, then they were when the ball was in dispute. So it's no wonder our midfield has been under-rated.

The problem with the media ratings of players is that they're always behind by a few years on players that didn't come through traditional "star mid" pathways.

Neale was killing it at Freo for a few years before anyone really spoke about him being a gun, Sam Mitchell was still talked about as a pure "extractor" a few years into becoming a player who was slicing teams apart with his kicking. We're currently going into the 4th year of "Gee that Jai Newcombe is good but I reckon he's hit his ceiling" - interesting that the ceiling keeps getting higher though.

 

[Hodgey 15]

Ready for the melts, when Geelong slap 10 on us in the first qtr on their shit hole dung heap in a praccy game.

Wont be reading too much into the result, but if it goes this way, melts will ensue.

As always every pre-season. Especially in the 3peat era posters were going off their chops when we had a loss.

 

[TazHawk15]

Ready for the melts, when Geelong slap 10 on us in the first qtr on their shit hole dung heap in a praccy game.

Wont be reading too much into the result, but if it goes this way, melts will ensue.

Yep it’s like clockwork.

I avoid this place like the plague the two days after a loss.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Ready for the melts, when Geelong slap 10 on us in the first qtr on their shit hole dung heap in a praccy game.

Wont be reading too much into the result, but if it goes this way, melts will ensue.

Pre-season/practice match melts are the best melts. Bring on the popcorn.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

I wonder if that plays a part in why our last 4 games against GWS have all been close arm wrestles that ended up with a very similar amount of goals in each game?

Final scores of 85, 72, 77, 75, 84, 82, 85, 79.

It's actually a crazy little on-field rivalry that's developed.

They have an annoyingly good record against us - they beat us in 2015 in a decent upset, came within two goals of upsetting us in 2014 when they only won 6 games all year and they've never lost to us in Sydney. Absolute bogey team.

 

[H00t]

Ready for the melts, when Geelong slap 10 on us in the first qtr on their shit hole dung heap in a praccy game.

Wont be reading too much into the result, but if it goes this way, melts will ensue.

Not saying it’s important we win but I’d be hoping for at least a solid competitive hit out over the 2 preseason games we have.

Especially given how poor the team looked in the preseason games last year which then carried on into the actual season.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Not saying it’s important we win but I’d be hoping for at least a solid competitive hit out over the 2 preseason games we have.

Especially given how poor the team looked in the preseason games last year which then carried on into the actual season.

I wouldn't worry about our form. We will hit the ground running round 0

 

[Davo-27]

I put Cooper Hodge in my top 35 for 2026 and a week or 2 later he's down at training, our recruiters might be watching his progress, he certainly throws himself at a contest, but isn't warrior-like in his ignoring pain like his old man, Cooper has good run and carry and seemed comfortable with the fast pace of the game, played more like Impey than Hodge at half back, could go 2nd round or late first from my early observation, but there's a long way to go in his development and tests under pressure. I can see why he got u15s AA selection, he looked a talent worth drafting at the u16s Championships.

 

[H00t]

I wouldn't worry about our form. We will hit the ground running round 0

From what I’ve read on here from yourself and others it all sounds extremely positive. I believe we will start well.

It’s just if we do play as poorly as we did last pre season it will raise a couple of doubts.

 

[CaptainWorpedo]

I put Cooper Hodge in my top 35 for 2026 and a week or 2 later he's down at training, our recruiters might be watching his progress, he certainly throws himself at a contest, but isn't warrior-like in his ignoring pain like his old man, Cooper has good run and carry and seemed comfortable with the fast pace of the game, played more like Impey than Hodge at half back, could go 2nd round or late first from my early observation, but there's a long way to go in his development and tests under pressure. I can see why he got u15s AA selection, he looked a talent worth drafting at the u16s Championships.

I reckon Cooper will develop that warrior like trait his dad had as he develops a man’s body.

Many Hawks are worried the Hodges love QLD, how ever they spend a lot of time in Melbourne with events.

If Cooper comes to the Hawks, I do wonder if they will set up in both cities. It would make sense, cooper has the house of a week with maybe a team mate and the rest of the bedrooms rooms are for the Hodge family for events when they come to Melbourne.

Luke seems to also travel Melbourne way a lot more than the rest of the Hodge family.

 

[matey]

Not worried about the final result/scores in the practices games. Will be looking at signs of quality pieces of play, individuals who are pushing for a spot in the seniors (like Frenchie, Ward, Ramma etc to see if they have improved) and having a good hit out against real opposition …… before the real stuff begins!

 

[MazHawk]

Yep it’s like clockwork.

I avoid this place like the plague the two days after a loss.

This.

 

[Jimmy the Ghost]

Yep it’s like clockwork.

I avoid this place like the plague the two days after a loss.

I avoid my wife and kids for 2 days after a loss

 

[cryptor]

Ready for the melts, when Geelong slap 10 on us in the first qtr on their shit hole dung heap in a praccy game.

Wont be reading too much into the result, but if it goes this way, melts will ensue.

There are only two opportunities per year that clubs get to play against another AFL club and have the result mean literally nothing in terms of competition rankings.

It would be a huge waste to prioritize winning a scratch match over using the opportunity to try things out against an opponent who doesn’t already know what your game plan is.

“No injuries” is the true measure of success in preseason games.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

There are only two opportunities per year that clubs get to play against another AFL club and have the result mean literally nothing in terms of competition rankings.

It would be a huge waste to prioritize winning a scratch match over using the opportunity to try things out against an opponent who doesn’t already know what your game plan is.

“No injuries” is the true measure of success in preseason games.

Hey, hey. This is bigfooty - there's no place here for your rational and logical way of thinking.

 

[SSSSSS]

I would love for us to start a season strong for once.

Even in our 3peat era we had some patchy starts like 2015.

3-1 would be a passmark for me by the end of March.

 

[Dewnior]

It's only a fortnight till our friendly againstthe Cats, at GMHBA. Hopefully on Foxtel?

I'm not sure any network is broadcasting this game. We may need to rely on BF posters provoking updates unless there is radio commentary

 

[Dewnior]

They have an annoyingly good record against us - they beat us in 2015 in a decent upset, came within two goals of upsetting us in 2014 when they only won 6 games all year and they've never lost to us in Sydney. Absolute bogey team.

I'd like to break this hoodoo soon. We may need to wait until the finals although I reckon we'll finish above them so likely next year unless they schedule us in Canberra again.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Ready for the melts, when Geelong slap 10 on us in the first qtr on their shit hole dung heap in a praccy game.

Wont be reading too much into the result, but if it goes this way, melts will ensue.

Can't see it TBH, they would have to absolutely dominate the midfield and I rekon we will hit the ground running early this year particularly against a team that had the wood on us. Don't give them a reason to think they still do even though it's shits and giggles. Where are they going to get there goals from if the defence clicks into gear from the start.

 

[kirbatron]

the toys are ready to be thrown...

 

[BlueWaterHawk]

Should we be taking the radio silence on Dear as a good or bad thing? I have a panic button, and I'm not afraid to use it!

 

[TheFourPillars]

the toys are ready to be thrown...

 

[TONYC3163]

I avoid my wife and kids for 2 days after a loss

Or they avoid you.