Hawthorn travel over to the west this weekend to face Fremantle, looking to continue their run of form that has seen them win four games on the trot and pushing for a top-four berth ahead of the 2025 season.

Yet despite sitting pretty with 11 wins so far for the 2025 season, the Hawks have had to contend with a wave of injuries and disruptions through the middle of the ground that has seen their midfield regularly change from game to game.

Speaking on the Talking Hawks Podcast, Hawthorn midfield coach David Hale opened up about the challenges that the team has had to face this year, but how the challenges have meant more opportunities for some of the younger midfielders.

"I think the midfield group had been quite lucky the previous two years of the injury, apart from probably Daisy, we hadn't had too many miss," Hale said.

"I don't think Worps missed a game in 2-3 years, and actually Jai (Newcombe) was similar as well. So those guys have played a lot of free together.

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"We've had a few different, but again, that creates opportunity.

"So guys like Wardy spent more time inside, Sammy Butler coming in, getting a run through the middle at times, has played there and Frenchy as well.

"They're playing together, them, you know, working with Meeky (Lloyd Meek) and what that looks like, working with each other and getting the balance of the contest right.

"There's a few things that go into being a midfielder.

"So the continuity of playing together and looking over to your left and knowing what that guy's going to do have been a little bit more challenging this year, but starting to hopefully get a run on it going into finals now."

With the loss of Will Day for the majority of the season to date and injuries to James Worpel, Cam Mackenzie and the suspension of Conor Nash earlier in the season, Josh Ward has been given more of a role through the middle, where he has started to shine and show the potential he has that saw him taken as an early draft pick.

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Ward, 21, who was selected with the 7th pick in the 2021 AFL National Draft, has impressed Hale with his performances this year.

"You know, Wardy, all the stuff that we look at, his ability to, you know, to play inside, his kicking on the outside, using his weapons and being on show a bit more," he said.

"You know, he came to us as an inside midfielder and with the players we had there, he's been playing a little bit of wing, a little bit of outside, a little bit of inside.
"So to get a consistent, you know, 4-6 week period where he played purely inside was really encouraging for him."
Jai Newcombe, who took out the Hawthorn best and fairest last year, has continued on his run of strong form, leading the midfield in the absence of Will Day.
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According to Hale, the 2024 Peter Crimmins Medalist has shown consistency that has seen him become an "A-grade" midfielder in the competition.
"I think Jai has elevated his game to be up there in that A-grade status of the guys in the competition who you look at each week who are going to consistently perform at a high level.
"He works hard on his craft, he's still only 23, he's still quite in that slot where hopefully his best footy is still to come.
"He is setting a high standard for himself and is driving the guys around him to be better each day."
Hale, who was an assistant coach at Fremantle before moving across to team up with head coach Sam Mitchell at the Hawks in 2022, has seen the rise of Lloyd Meek from a raw ruckman to one who is now regarded in the top handful of rucks in the competition.
"Meeky was always a hard worker," Hale said of fellow ruckman.
"When he first came in, he was quite raw, so seeing the improvement now to where he is now has been really great to watch.
"He puts a lot of time into his craft vision, coming in, reviewing his games.

"So his progression, the confidence he gives the guys around in to walk a bit taller with the presence he has in there.

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"He has grown in leaps and bounds."

The Hawks' finals push looks to get a well-timed boost in a few weeks time, when star midfielder Will Day will be available for selection.
Day, 24, has not played since the Hawks' win against the Giants in Round 3, and while his expected return to the side in Round 20 draws closer, Hale discussed how important Day has been to the midfield cohort off the field.
"His footy IQ for a guy his age has always been really high," Hale said.
"So having him on the bench and been able to talk up and down with comms with him around set-ups and what he's seeing and delivering vision for him to talk through with the players has been really handy.
"Having that education level with the players on the ground when they come off, being able to talk through what they're feeling and seeing and relaying that back upstairs has been invaluable.
"Hopefully, like you said, he's back in a couple of weeks and back on the ground, but he's been really good for the midfield group in that instance."
To listen to the full interview with David Hale, click here.

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