Scouting notes and news from Hawthorn pre-season training in Dingley
After James Worpel’s departure and a failed Zach Merrett trade bid, the Hawks have a midfield void to fill. Hear from Jarman Impey and get the latest track watch intel to see their plans.
Few line groups will face more scrutiny this summer than Hawthorn’s midfield brigade after the Hawks fell short in their pursuit of Essendon star Zach Merrett.
But experienced defender Jarman Impey is confident the Hawks already have players on the list who are equipped to strengthen the club’s centre-square combination in the wake of James Worpel’s departure.
Worpel’s move to Geelong as a free agent in October had been anticipated by the Hawks but has left a void to fill, particularly given Will Day’s persistent battle with injuries over the last two seasons.
Impey said Day was making strong progress as he aims for a return to full training just before the Christmas break.
But eyes at the Hawks’ new Dingley headquarters have been focused firmly on the club’s younger midfielders after the preliminary finalists were too reliant on best and fairest winner Jai Newcombe at the coalface during September.
Pacy utility Josh Weddle was spotted by track watchers in stoppage drills during the week, but was on lighter duties on Saturday as Connor Macdonald, Nick Watson and Sam Butler joined the onballers working closely with ruckmen Ned Reeves and Max Ramsden and new midfield coach David Mackay.
That quartet have all been earmarked for more opportunities on the ball in 2026, but it was a trio of specialist midfielders who stood out in Impey’s mind as the players to take the Hawks’ engine room forward.
“Cam Mackenzie is one that pops up into my mind. (Josh) Ward can have a great year, (Henry) Hustwaite can go to another level as well,” he said.
“That little crew have been training together in the off-season and coming into the club super early as well.
“Those boys look fit, they look hungry, I keep talking about personnel, and they’re the ones who I think are ready to take the (next) step and I have big belief in them.”
Ward turned heads with his improved aerobic power upon his return to training last week, winning a six-minute run test ahead of Karl Amon and Dylan Moore.
Finn Maginness, usually right at the front of any Hawks foot race, managed to finish in the top five as he builds fitness following a horror lacerated kidney injury which required emergency surgery and a week in a Hobart hospital during July.
Day has spent most of his time away from the main group on a modified training program after he re-injured the navicular bone in his foot in August.
Impey said the 24-year-old, who has been touted as a future captain, was “locked in” as he prepared to be training fully just before the end-of-year break on December 19.
“He’s a favourite of mine, Will Day. He’s looking really fit, he’s just really locked in, it seems,” Impey said.
“Hopefully he can have a really consistent pre-season and get super, super fit.
“It’s going to be really scary to have Will Day 100 per cent fit, so we look forward to that.”
Impey, who finished in the top-10 of Hawthorn’s best and fairest for the third consecutive season in 2025, said he was thrilled with the new facilities as about 2,000 club supporters flocked to the Kennedy Community Centre in Dingley for a Christmas celebration and open training.
Great turnout 🤎💛 pic.twitter.com/s7j9r2px2L
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) December 5, 2025
Checking out the new digs 👌 pic.twitter.com/PSbzNuD0Pu
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) December 5, 2025
“Mate, it’s been amazing. I nearly feel like a better player in these facilities. Most of the boys have said the same thing – we’re very excited to be here and we were actually very excited for today, because we knew (the fans) wanted to see the facilities,” Impey said.
“The boys are very hungry – I think that’s the main thing. I know that (hunger) will stay, and we’ll look forward to the season,” he said.
Impey said he had enjoyed a “low key” off-season spending time at home with his wife, Annabelle and their baby son, Zion, who was born in May.
“Just training and looking after the little one. It was nice to have the mornings with little Zion, and be present and obviously give my wife a bit of a chop out,” he said.
“It was nice and low key for myself – I feel really refreshed, it was a big year, and I’m looking forward to finishing off the year very well over Christmas.
“The body is feeling good, so hopefully it can stay that way. You need a lot of luck in this caper, but I’m feeling pretty good at the moment, so hopefully I can have a full pre-season and go again.”
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Originally published as Scouting notes and news from Hawthorn pre-season training in Dingley
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