Hawthorn returned to the training track after their Christmas break, ready to knuckle down and prepare for their tilt at the 2026 Premiership.
With less than two months until their Opening Round clash against the Giants at Engie Stadium, the squad hit the ground running on their first day back, opening the new year with a gruesome endurance test.
While senior players Jarman Impey, Tom Barrass, and Blake Hardwick watched on alongside young guns Calsher Dear and Josh Weddle, the rest of the squad were put through their paces in a gruelling six-minute time trial.
Split into two groups, the session provided an early glimpse of who had returned in peak condition after the three-week break.
Unheralded winger Harry Morrison, who missed the Hawks' finals campaign in 2025 due to a quad injury, claimed victory in his group by holding off a fast-finishing Max Ramsden.
Morrison's performance demonstrated he has returned in excellent form as he seeks to reclaim his spot in the starting lineup after featuring in 20 matches last season.
Once the first group had recovered, Hawthorn's elite runners took their turn.
Small forward turned midfielder Sam Butler produced an emphatic victory, falling agonisingly short of breaking the 2km mark in the timed run.
Butler, who played a pivotal role in the Hawks' two finals victories in 2025 against the Giants and Adelaide, has positioned himself at the forefront of coach Sam Mitchell's midfield plans.
His toughness and endurance could prove invaluable this season as the Hawks look to bridge the gap to reigning back-to-back premiers Brisbane.
Karl Amon, who previously held the club record for distance covered in the endurance run, finished second.
First-year recruit and endurance machine Jack Dalton secured third place, edging out Dylan Moore, Josh Ward, and Finn Maginness in an impressive display from the 18-year-old.
Following the demanding running session, attention turned to drill work, where breezy conditions made accuracy challenging and allowed several young Hawks to showcase their elite kicking skills.
Cam Mackenzie, now in his fourth year at the club, demonstrated why he's pushing for a midfield berth as Hawthorn looks to cover the departure of experienced midfielder James Worpel, who moved to Geelong as a free agent during the trade period.
Mackenzie's precision stood out as others struggled with the conditions.
First-year rookie Ollie Greaves also excelled, regularly hitting targets with the clinical kicking that made him highly touted during his under-18 season.
His performance suggests he could be a surprise debutant this season after the club failed to blood a new player last year.
Experienced small defender Jarman Impey appeared in superb form, with his excitement and enthusiasm on full display throughout the two-hour session.
His intensity around the ball and willingness to be involved prominently bode well as he aims to improve on his eighth-placed finish in last year's best and fairest.
Will Day, recovering from a significant navicular injury that forced him to miss his second consecutive finals series, trained separately from the main group alongside fellow South Australian and first-year player Cameron Nairn.
The 24-year-old, who has played 76 games since debuting in 2020, looked in excellent condition as he races the clock to be available for Opening Round.
Running smoothly and marking confidently in the forward line, Day appears to be adding more versatility to his game after battling significant injuries over the past two years.
Youngsters Will McCabe and Cody Anderson spent time with the medical team managing what appeared to be minor back complaints, running laps independently while the main group trained.
The Hawks will continue ramping up their preparation before their training camp in Torquay in a fortnight.
