Hawthorn's midfield ensemble is looking to thrive off internal competition for spots this season as a number of young Hawks look to make their case for minutes under Sam Mitchell.
The club's seven-piece midfield unit of Jai Newcombe, James Worpel, Conor Nash, Will Day, Josh Ward, Cameron Mackenzie and Henry Hustwaite has an average age of just 21.8 heading into the 2024 season, boasting plenty of upside as the Waverley club looks to rise up the ranks.
Day, the Hawks' reigning best and fairest winner, is looming as a chance to miss his side's Round 1 bout with Essendon in mid-March due to a foot injury, with his potential absence set to open up a spot in the starting midfield unit for the crop of fledgling fringe Hawks onballers.
With "a lot of high draft picks and a lot of good players" making up Sam Mitchell's engine room, competition for spots is at an all-time high.
"It's pretty exciting," Worpel told media on Monday in Waurn Ponds.
"Obviously, Daysy has gone down with a foot injury but it gives the likes of Henry Hustwaite, Mackenzie and Ward a chance to step up and fill his shoes.
"It's anyone's spot at the moment, so it's exciting for those young fellas.
"We've got a good core in (the middle) now with Jai, Nashy, Daysy and myself. We're all pretty young and, hopefully, none of our spots get taken by the younger boys but we're excited to see what happens.
"The midfield is stacked, there's a lot of high draft picks and a lot of good players. This time of the year it gets competitive. We're all fighting for spots."
While the aforementioned septet will each be looking to improve on their campaigns of yesteryear, it's uncapped Hawk Cooper Stephens who could be the Round 1 bolter among the brown and gold.
RELATED: The players at your club who are set to miss Round 1
After making the move to Bunjil Bagora from Geelong at the end of 2022 after just seven senior appearances and a luckless run with injury, the 23-year-old couldn't break into Mitchell's side last year despite some promising form in the VFL with Box Hill.
Speaking on the fellow Geelong Falcons graduate, Worpel said Stephens might be one to take advantage of Day's time on the sidelines.
"He's really a good clearance player, so I wouldn't be surprised if he sneaks his way into the Round 1 team," Worpel said.
"We know what he brings. He can play up forward and kick a few goals.
"He had some really strong VFL performances last year. Hopefully, he can crack his way into the team."
Worpel revealed his coach came to him when the club began considering Stephens as a trade target, with the 2019 best and fairest winner full of praise for the young Cats midfielder.
With Stephens showing some signs of what he can offer at the top level, Worpel backed in the young Hawk to take the next step in 2024.
"I remember Sam asked me a bit about him before we got him across from Geelong," Worpel added.
"He asked what he's like and I said he's a hard worker, he does his job and we'd love to have him. Luckily enough, we got him.
"He's had a little bit of (bad) luck with his injuries, but he played some consistent footy towards the back end of the year, so we're excited to see what he can do."
Stephens' potential rise mightn't be the only change to the Hawks' plans for the season ahead, with defensive pair Changkuoth Jiath and Blake Hardwick training further up the field this pre-season.
Jiath has pushed up onto a wing to complement the Hawks' inside workhorses with his speed and carry, while Hardwick could be utilised deeper in attack as a potential forward 50 threat.
The moved magnets could be on full display next month when the Hawks meet with the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval for their first of two practice sessions against the Dogs prior to the home and away season.
