Training 2026 Off-Season & Preseason reports and discussion

[Newmo89]

Any idea what time the boys should be out training tomorrow? Got a few spare hours and was thinking of wandering over to the new facility!

9 am

 

[FB19]

Hurry Kane, or you'll miss these weather puns.

Hopefully Schubert doesn’t try too hard or we might see a Torn adolescent hamstring. Given he’s a DarCy clone we can’t afford that.

 

[Millsie69]

Who said that Perez is soft? I wouldn't have associated that trait with him at all!

 

[bigmaxi]

Guess you missed this.

So inspiring, thanks SYL love all of this stuff from the club. Makes me so proud to be a member of such an amazing footy club and a cracker and admirable bunch of blokes.

 

[SSSSSS]

North board spoke pretty highly of Perez but unfortunately looks like he was robbed of his career cruelled by multiple knee injuries.

Hopefully if he does get another run at it he can stay healthy.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Reminds me of a right footed Mass.

 

[Coburghawk]

Gus Anderson got picked up by the Pies after a great year, ending with the BoG medal on GF day.

They'll be up there again next year too

Geez I woulda loved Gus to come to the Hawks.

 

[GOHORCS]

Thanks!! I love this one.

I've been struggling for my Supercoach team name for next year. Always go with a hawks pun. Prefer a player who might get a few more games but this will work!

Past highlights have been Spango Unchained, Hodge Breath Cafe, Barrassic Park, Full Weddle Jacket, Vickery Dickery Dock, Burton Ernie, Birchall Reality. Tattswatto....

Welsh stuffed me as I was going to go with Back, Zach & Crack had we got that one through.

If anyone can come up with a funny one for Dear or Massimo I would be grateful!

Hunting Dear, Shooting Blancks

 

[arupist]

Not tonight, Dear. I have a headache.

 

[brad sue well]

Looking forward to the (real) Windy Hill training reports.

 

[hawkinoz]

North board spoke pretty highly of Perez but unfortunately looks like he was robbed of his career cruelled by multiple knee injuries.

Hopefully if he does get another run at it he can stay healthy.

here, 1st look

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Shorts and t-shirt weather in Melbourne? How crazy.

Everyone accounted for today, even Perez, apart from Calsh who may have been inside somewhere.

Day, Newk, Sic, JUH and Karl mostly doing running on the wing as part of the modified/rehab group.
Mclaughlin looked to have tweaked an ankle/foot and went off the ground to the new medicos shed before heading upstairs.

Croc was up about today, in a particular contest drill in the pocket where a stoppage was being played he shimmied around his two opponents and wrong footed Battle in another to clear the ball, to JB's disgust.

Wardy just continues to put his best foot forward, in the same drill as above, he contested the stoppage, put a smother on his opponent, stealing the ball in that moment before running away and getting the clearing kick. I think he touched on how disappointed he was with how the season ended, and for him personally and it looks like it's really driving him.

Special mention to Hilly today, who really pushed himself in the running and was up near the front of the oval length runs, which had all the assistants and players really getting over to him and patting him on the back. Greeves too was getting a lot of encouragement which saw him have a much improved running session before he and the other draftees sat out the last few sets.

Perez had a nice shiny pair of bright green boots which allowed for him to be spotted and watched. He has a neat kick and is taller than I thought he'd be. He had a good first session with the boys who all got around him.

Ramma and McCabe really put in when it came to the interval running, with Ramma streaking ahead of everyone as they ran from wing to wing, after doing the end to end stuff. The 30 second rest between each set allowed for players to get their breath, but it was increasingly hard work for them all to get up for the next run and finish it off.

Earlier on in the day Schu, Lewis and McCabe were playing as a 3 pronged forward line in a drill, timing their leads and working on their leading patterns. Schu came in for special treatment from Gunners, who coached him constantly, even getting Schu to step out his exact movements and how he both moves, doubles back and then showing Schu how each pattern allows for Jack to open a leading space and a window of opportunity for the kicker. Jack was brilliant and barely left Schu's side. He could then be seen doing similar with Nairn a few moments later.

Lewis is looking extremely fit and I think after his second half of 2025 being about him getting back to some form and feel at AFL level, he's going to be like a new recruit in 2026.

Ginni was reading the ball off the hands today like we have come to expect and slotting them with ease. His field kicking also chefs kiss. I've said this already, but he's looking very trim.

Ever see a truck in traffic that cant see the little mazda 121 beside it when it's merging? Recipe for disaster. Unfortunately this was the case with Noodle and cody today under a high ball, with Noodle having eyes only for the drop zone, not noticing that the little 121(cody) was about to be ploughed through. Cody took the hit, got up a bit slowly, but shook it off within a minute.

Finn's still building into the preseason and he's wearing a protective layer under his singlet but I dare say he is training the house down, and was Ginnivan-esque with some of his work close to goal today.

Moorey is really training with intent and looks like he's in for a big year. He is a pace setter and a standard setter out on the park and looks primed for a big 2026.
Mraz still has his moments with his kicking, but his intensity at training cannot be questioned. If there is a body to be hit, a ball to be spoilt or a tackle to be made he's hitting it at 100%. He looks like a player to watch, and I can understand why the club are so bullish on him.

 

[SunshineHawkCal]

Strapping Young Lad how did Stanley go today?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Strapping Young Lad how did Stanley go today?

I honestly barely noticed him, but that's nothing on him, thats on me focusing on others.

 

[SunshineHawkCal]

I honestly barely noticed him, but that's nothing on him, thats on me focusing on others.

Gonna have to start sending scouts to observe the observers so that the observers stay focused when observing

 

[Howe Amazing]

I heard Weddle training with mids is that with more wing in mind or possibly inside mid?

 

[TheFourPillars]

Milky laid a fantastic tackle in one of the drills I think on Battle. Probably his play of the day

 

[TheFourPillars]

I heard Weddle training with mids is that with more wing in mind or possibly inside mid?

No

 

[SunshineHawkCal]

No

Hawks insiders said he was today in stoppage work

 

[hawkinoz]

I heard Weddle training with mids is that with more wing in mind or possibly inside mid?

Yes.. see 4th video in particular of Weds seeing a gap open up and leaving his pursuer in dust.. Greeves is in 2nd and 3rd video, held on to ball too long, whistle got blown even though he wasn't being properly tackled and had hands free.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Hawks insiders said he was today in stoppage work

Stoppage drills on the wing are different quite a few players run through them like Impey and other half back flankers and wingers

 

[Dixie Flatline]

Perez had a nice shiny pair of bright green boots which allowed for him to be spotted and watched. He has a neat kick and is taller than I thought he'd be. He had a good first session with the boys who all got around him.

A cunning ploy to be remembered by coaches when it's time to make roster cuts. If he was smart, he also would have gone around and thanked all the coaches for their time after the session was done.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Yes.. see 4th video in particular of Weds seeing a gap open up and leaving his pursuer in dust.. Greeves is in 2nd and 3rd video, held on to ball too long, whistle got blown even though he wasn't being properly tackled and had hands free.

I didn't see your post before i posted mine. As mentioned in mine you will see a lot of other players going through stoppages on the wing including players of the half back flank

Edit: He is going through there potentially for the times he will play on the wing this year. He won't play mid

 

[stemline]

Shorts and t-shirt weather in Melbourne? How crazy.

Everyone accounted for today, even Perez, apart from Calsh who may have been inside somewhere.

Day, Newk, Sic, JUH and Karl mostly doing running on the wing as part of the modified/rehab group.
Mclaughlin looked to have tweaked an ankle/foot and went off the ground to the new medicos shed before heading upstairs.

Croc was up about today, in a particular contest drill in the pocket where a stoppage was being played he shimmied around his two opponents and wrong footed Battle in another to clear the ball, to JB's disgust.

Wardy just continues to put his best foot forward, in the same drill as above, he contested the stoppage, put a smother on his opponent, stealing the ball in that moment before running away and getting the clearing kick. I think he touched on how disappointed he was with how the season ended, and for him personally and it looks like it's really driving him.

Special mention to Hilly today, who really pushed himself in the running and was up near the front of the oval length runs, which had all the assistants and players really getting over to him and patting him on the back. Greeves too was getting a lot of encouragement which saw him have a much improved running session before he and the other draftees sat out the last few sets.

Perez had a nice shiny pair of bright green boots which allowed for him to be spotted and watched. He has a neat kick and is taller than I thought he'd be. He had a good first session with the boys who all got around him.

Ramma and McCabe really put in when it came to the interval running, with Ramma streaking ahead of everyone as they ran from wing to wing, after doing the end to end stuff. The 30 second rest between each set allowed for players to get their breath, but it was increasingly hard work for them all to get up for the next run and finish it off.

Earlier on in the day Schu, Lewis and McCabe were playing as a 3 pronged forward line in a drill, timing their leads and working on their leading patterns. Schu came in for special treatment from Gunners, who coached him constantly, even getting Schu to step out his exact movements and how he both moves, doubles back and then showing Schu how each pattern allows for Jack to open a leading space and a window of opportunity for the kicker. Jack was brilliant and barely left Schu's side. He could then be seen doing similar with Nairn a few moments later.

Lewis is looking extremely fit and I think after his second half of 2025 being about him getting back to some form and feel at AFL level, he's going to be like a new recruit in 2026.

Ginni was reading the ball off the hands today like we have come to expect and slotting them with ease. His field kicking also chefs kiss. I've said this already, but he's looking very trim.

Ever see a truck in traffic that cant see the little mazda 121 beside it when it's merging? Recipe for disaster. Unfortunately this was the case with Noodle and cody today under a high ball, with Noodle having eyes only for the drop zone, not noticing that the little 121(cody) was about to be ploughed through. Cody took the hit, got up a bit slowly, but shook it off within a minute.

Finn's still building into the preseason and he's wearing a protective layer under his singlet but I dare say he is training the house down, and was Ginnivan-esque with some of his work close to goal today.

Moorey is really training with intent and looks like he's in for a big year. He is a pace setter and a standard setter out on the park and looks primed for a big 2026.
Mraz still has his moments with his kicking, but his intensity at training cannot be questioned. If there is a body to be hit, a ball to be spoilt or a tackle to be made he's hitting it at 100%. He looks like a player to watch, and I can understand why the club are so bullish on him.

Fantastic summation. You've nicely covered everything I saw, and more.

Only thing I could add is there were a couple of umpires there today watching on, especially the tackling drills, and providing feedback - presumably on the new interpretations.

Also, apart from Calsher, I couldn't spot BMac the whole morning despite looking for him - don't think he was out there.

I tried to have a kick with my son afterwards and the wind was insane, had to allow for it in the ball drop not just the kick. The players' skills are astonishing considering.

Was on the fence when a few of the lads were taking shots early on. Young Schu after a very deliberate approach on his natural right foot puts it across the face and out on the full. Sicily behind him asks "Oh mate are you a left footer?" Schu totally misses that it's a little dig and answers earnestly that no, he's in fact a right footer. Sicily turns to the player behind him and they share an "oh no" look of embarrassment for the kid. Sicily then nails his two shots, one banana and one drop punt in that ridiculous breeze.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Fantastic summation. You've nicely covered everything I saw, and more.

Only thing I could add is there were a couple of umpires there today watching on, especially the tackling drills, and providing feedback - presumably on the new interpretations.

Also, apart from Calsher, I couldn't spot BMac the whole morning despite looking for him - don't think he was out there.

I tried to have a kick with my son afterwards and the wind was insane, had to allow for it in the ball drop not just the kick. The players' skills are astonishing considering.

Was on the fence when a few of the lads were taking shots early on. Young Schu after a very deliberate approach on his natural right foot puts it across the face and out on the full. Sicily behind him asks "Oh mate are you a left footer?" Schu totally misses that it's a little dig and answers earnestly that no, he's in fact a right footer. Sicily turns to the player behind him and they share an "oh no" look of embarrassment for the kid. Sicily then nails his two shots, one banana and one drop punt in that ridiculous breeze.

Sic's kicking today was ****ing unbelievable. He also had a shot from 55 an absolute bullet no chance for the wind to deviate it. His kicking is back we have missed it