Hawthorn concluded their pre-Christmas training block with an intense three-hour session under warm conditions at their new Dingley facilities.
The players endured a demanding program featuring various drills, an intensely physical match simulation, and a substantial running block to complete their training loads before the break.
Will Day, recovering from a broken navicular that ruled him out of his second consecutive finals series, was running freely as he works to increase his training intensity ahead of Hawthorn's 2026 campaign.
The Hawks are determined to improve on last year's preliminary final appearance, where they fell to Geelong by 30 points.
While skipper James Sicily, experienced half-back Karl Amon and young key forward Calsher Dear watched from the sidelines, the intensity ramped up significantly as mouthguards went in and the physicality increased in the December heat.
Two AFL officials umpired the match simulation, allowing the Hawks to familiarise themselves with the new last disposal out of bounds rule and updated ruck contest adjudication.
The competitive nature of the session demonstrated that Hawthorn is primed and eager to close the gap on back-to-back premiers Brisbane and claim a 14th premiership in 2026 after falling short this year.
Lloyd Meek and Ned Reeves engaged in a compelling ruck battle as both vie for the number one ruck position.
Reeves utilised his height and craft to create opportunities for Hawthorn's small forwards while also taking a strong contested mark, whereas Meek showcased his running power by pushing forward during attacking phases, using his high work rate and strong hands to consistently trouble his opponent.
Nick Watson was a standout during the simulation, displaying his acceleration and craftiness to evade defenders in traffic and launch attacking movements while also converting his opportunities in front of goal.
Connor MacDonald and Josh Ward both staked strong claims to help fill voids in the middle and secure spots in new midfield coach David Mackay's 2026 lineup after the Hawks missed out on securing star midfielder Zach Merrett during the trade period.
The pair, who were both drafted in 2021, looked comfortable in the middle, starting together at centre bounces alongside Irishman Conor Nash and demonstrating why the Hawks are confident they can use internal growth and progression to add a more dynamic dimension to their midfield alongside Day and reigning Peter Crimmins medallist Jai Newcombe.
Both players used their endurance and vision to initiate multiple forward thrusts while working tirelessly in defence to plug gaps and disrupt opposition flow.
Jack Gunston, Mabior Chol, Mitch Lewis and Max Ramsden rotated through the forward line during the match simulation as the Hawks look to utilise a taller structure given their forward depth.
Gunston and Chol marked strongly on the lead and applied pressure when defending, while Ramsden and Lewis impressed with their ability to create contests from long entries.
With the tall forward contingent impressing throughout the pre-season, forwards coach Adrian Hickmott will face some selection challenges as he looks to fit them all into the Hawks' plans for 2026.
Massimo D'Ambrosio demonstrated composure with his disposal, using his running capacity to provide defensive support before employing his precise kicking to open up the field.
Ollie Greeves looked like a potential draft steal, showing composure in congested situations and delivering consistent kicks into the forward line that gave his teammates an advantage.
High-performance manager Peter Burge pushed the squad through a gruelling 30-minute running session following the match simulation to cap off the morning.
Finn Maginness, Jack Dalton, Will McCabe and Sam Butler stood out during this segment, displaying the endurance and repeated efforts that will have them pushing for senior selection in 2026.
The Hawks now enjoy a three-week break before resuming training in early January as they aim to be a formidable force in the 2026 AFL season.
