Hawthorn track watch: Max Ramsden and Jack Gunston loom as key targets in attack

The only area of concern on the injury front for the healthy Hawks is in the forward half — but two keys look set to step up and fill the void nicely. See more in track watch.

It was the Triple H show at Waverley Park on Tuesday morning and we’re not talking about the WWE wrestler.

The Healthy Happy Hawks were going through their strides and a look at the rehab group should have rival clubs concerned.

Already picked as the boom team of 2025 after their exhilarating rise up the ladder last year, Sam Mitchell has the one thing every coach craves in February . . . a healthy list.

Only one player from the semi-final side which lost the thriller to Port Adelaide wasn’t training fully and that’s young key forward Calsher Dear who is facing months on the sidelines with a stress fracture in his back.

His replacement to go into the Round 1`side is a pretty impressive one, future captain Will Day who missed the finals because of a collarbone injury.

And then you also add two boom recruits, Tom Barass and Josh Battle, plus a motivated and fully fit Changkuoth ‘CJ’ Jiath and it’s a happy healthy place at Hawthorn.

Jack Gunston at Hawthorn AFL training in Mulgrave. Tuesday, February 4, 2025. Picture: David Crosling

OLD DOG STILL GOT BARK

The oldest rookie in the game, Jack Gunston, continues to wind back the clock.

Word out of the Hawks is the 33-year-old has hardly missed a session across the pre-season and is positioning himself to play an influential role in the forward structure that will miss Dear.

Gunston’s experience and cool head is the reason Mitchell wants him around to balance out a lot of youthful exuberance in that part of the ground.

SUMMER SPRUIK

With Mitch Lewis recovering from knee surgery and Dear also on the long-term injury list, all eyes have been on Max Ramsden to step up into the role.

The 21-year-old has elite agility for a 203cm player and has been the stand-out of the early pre-season.

“We need someone to step up, at least one,” Day said about Ramsden, who has played five games in two years.

“He’s been training the house down and his presence up forward has been really good.

“With his physical attributes to be that big and cover the ground so well, I think he’s definitely in the mix (for Opening Round).”

Jack Ginnivan on the deck. Picture: David Crosling

GINNI MOMENT

It didn’t qualify as a scare, more an annoying moment for Jack Ginnivan.

He was cursing and shaking his head about a lower leg issue at the start of Tuesday’s session, speaking a number of times with the medical staff.

But he pushed through and by the end of the hour-long session, there didn’t seem to be any lingering issues for the goalsneak.

Originally published as Hawthorn track watch: Max Ramsden and Jack Gunston loom as key targets in attack