With just a fortnight left until the Christmas break, the Hawks were put through an arduous two-hour session as they look to give themselves the best opportunity to push for a third consecutive finals appearance in the 2026 season.
Using the second of their two ovals at the newly opened Kennedy Community Centre, Sam Mitchell's squad were joined by potential future father-son picks Ben Crawford and Percy Burgoyne, as the two young men were given a taste of what it is like to train with a professional AFL team.
Ben and Percy, whose fathers both wore the famous number nine at the club and are both premiership heroes, joined in for some of the early drills and a kicking component before sitting out and watching the remainder of training as the energy levels and physicality were dialled up.
While veterans Captain James Sicily and half-back Karl Amon ran laps, it was a number of the Hawks' promising young contingent that put their hands up during the session, with some impressive moments that will have Hawthorn excited for what lies ahead in 2026.
Josh Ward continued his tremendous start to pre-season training after his breakout 2025 season that saw him receive the Hawks' most improved award at the Peter Crimmins Medal awards night.
During the session, which comprised skills, stoppage work and running, Ward, who is about to enter his fifth AFL season, was a standout. He showcased his array of skills and elite running power that has him in a prime position to take up a more prominent role in the midfield next season as the Hawks look to cover the loss of James Worpel, who departed the club as a free agent.
Ward was clean around stoppages, using his leg speed to drive away from congestion before using the ball with decisiveness to select the best option and give the forwards every opportunity to take a mark.
Matt Leray, who was recently drafted to the club during the 2025 AFL National Draft, had some promising moments during the session, taking multiple contested marks and showing off his strong hands overhead as he continues to become acclimatised to the standard needed at the senior level.
With the unfortunate injury to SSP train-on Brodie McLaughlin, who suffered a nasty break in his foot that will see him sidelined for up to 10 weeks after surgery, fellow SSP prospect Flynn Perez shone brightly as he looks to secure his second opportunity at AFL level after being on North Melbourne's list.
Perez, 24, starred for Sturt in 2025 and was a key reason that the club took out the SANFL premiership, and has continued to show his impressive form during his first few weeks training with the Hawks.
During the session, Perez dazzled onlookers with a remarkable play where his quick feet saw him able to get out of congestion and away from danger before using his speed to deliver a pass lace-out to the full forward.
He was also strong overhead with his marking and was in the top few in his group for running, making sure to show Sam Mitchell and the Hawthorn coaching squad that he would be an asset for the Hawks if given the opportunity.
Perez star, was elite
— Jack Ginnivan (@GinnivanJack) December 8, 2025
Hawthorn are looking to bolster their backline ranks, having seen both Changkuoth Jiath and Seamus Mitchell depart the club after the Hawks' preliminary final loss to Geelong brought a close to their 2025 campaign.
With the new ruck rule to come into effect in 2026 that will see less wrestling from ruckmen, both Ned Reeves and Lloyd Meek are throwing down the gauntlet to the Hawks' coaching panel as they look to get the first crack at a starting position in the Hawthorn lineup.
Meek has returned from the break in peak fitness, where his running prowess has been on display as he acts like an extra midfielder during stoppage and clearance work, while Reeves has shown that he has worked on his strength in marking contests, making the most of his 211 cm frame as he took multiple contested marks over Meek on the wing.
With no substitute on the bench in 2026, it will be interesting to watch whether the Hawks look to play both big men during the pre-season matches and have both using their strengths to assist the side to go one better than their preliminary final appearance in 2025.
Important duo of young key forward Calsher Dear and crucial midfielder Jai Newcombe both rejoined drills after mainly running over the first fortnight, while star midfielder Will Day continues his return from a broken navicular that saw him miss a second consecutive finals campaign.
Day completed his own program away from the main squad as the Hawks aim to give him the best opportunity to be fit and firing for the beginning of the 2026 season.
