In Hawthorn's 20-point victory to kick start their 2025 premiership tilt, Will Day announced himself as a bona fide star underneath the Friday night lights at the SCG against fellow heavyweight contenders the Sydney Swans.
He ended the season opener with 26 disposals from 73% game time in a performance that will shift detractors' minds about the ability and class of the young Hawk.
Day was prolific in the first half for the Hawks, playing an important role in attack and kicking three goals in his first ever Friday night game as the team showed the competition that last year's performance was not a one-off.
The young midfielder showed class and composure as he helped the Hawks midfield to get on top, leading to a healthy half time lead in front of a parochial Swans crowd for the official season opener.
His first half was electric, with 19 disposals at 85% efficiency paramount in helping the Hawks to slice and dice through the highly regarded Sydney defence on the smaller SCG.
Day's class oozed through his disposals and decision making, having seven score involvements and a goal assist in a display that would have pleased head coach Sam Mitchell.
His grit and toughness was also on display, throwing his body into the contest to finish the night with nine clearances and showing that he had full confidence upon his return from collarbone surgery in the off season.
His three first half goals during his short stints resting the forward line was a credit to the new game plan that Mitchell and midfield coach David Hale had devised over the off-season, to make Day an even more dangerous proposition for opposition teams.
While it looked like Day and the Hawks had the game on their terms, he was thrown a massive challenge in the second half with Swans coach Dean Cox aiming to stop the Hawks engine room leader.
With the Hawks losing underrated midfielder James Worpel, who had gathered 11 touches, succumbing to an ankle injury at half time, the Swans opted to shift tagger James Jordan to quell and nullify Day's impact.
The Hawks, however, had prepared Day for the inevitable tag that comes his way in 2025, as opposition teams realise the importance of the 23-year-old in leading Hawthorn's attacking ball movement.
During pre-season match simulation at Bunjil Bagora, the Hawks had placed midfield battering ram Conor Nash onto Day to get him exposed to the physicality and close checking of a tag that will inevitably come his way this season as opposition teams see the damage that he can cause when he has time and space to create opportunities for his teammates.
While quieter in the third quarter, Day played a role in the last quarter, with his ability to impact contests and get himself in the right position to assist the Hawks in kicking the only three goals of the last quarter as they sealed their first win for the season, in coach Mitchell'sย 400th game as both a player and coach.
Hawthorn supporters already know the importance of Day in the Hawks' line up as they look to contend for premiership glory.
Last season, the Hawks midfield spluttered in the early rounds until Day returned in their corresponding clash against the Swans at the SCG.
The Hawks at that stage were 1-6 for the season, before Day helped kickstart their attack, adding class and composure to the midfield and helping drive standards on the park.
The 23-year-old featured heavily in Hawthorn's highlights as they went on their run towards an unlikely finals berth.
Unfortunately for the Hawks and for Day, tragedy struck in Round 23 against Richmond.
He copped a nasty knock to his collarbone that curtailed his season and left him unable to play in the Hawks first finals victory since 2015.
After having shoulder surgery, Day was able to complete his first full pre-season since being drafted to the club with the 13th pick in the 2019 National Draft.
With high performance manager Peter Burge watching his program carefully, Day hasn't missed a beat and is ready to tear the 2025 season apart in what would be a massive boost as the Hawks look to go further than last year.
With him announcing himself on the big stage in the season opener, Hawks fans will be salivating at the prospect of what a fit and firing Day can provide to their team's chances as they chase premiership glory this year.
The Hawks take on arch rivals Essendon underneath the Friday night lights in Round one as they look to make it back to back victories to start their season for the first time since 2022.
