Experienced Hawthorn swingman Blake Hardwick understands that the most important element for the playing group is to continue to utilise the same flair, passion and joy that allowed the Hawks to play finals in 2024 for the first time in six seasons.
Speaking on the Talking Hawks Podcast, Hardwick, entering into his 10th AFL season, discussed the focus of the team this pre-season has been to continue the momentum from last year, which will hopefully leave them in good stead for the start of the 2025 season.
"We'd like to build on the momentum we had last year," he said.
"We've got a tough first five weeks I think. A few Friday night games, a few Thursday night games against some tough teams and some rivalries, so that will be fun."
Having been at the club during Hawthorn's previous finals campaign, Hardwick spoke about the joy of finally being able to win a game in September, with the 2018 Hawks bundled out in straight sets.
"Yeah, it was amazing. Probably the best feeling that I've had playing," Hardwick added.
"To get back there and to win one, and especially after the slow start, no one ever really expected that. So that, in a way, kind of made it feel better."
Having been a free agent in 2024 and remaining at the club where that drafted him with Pick 44 in 2015, Hardwick is hopeful that Lloyd Meek, who is out of contract at the end of the season, will stay the course and be part of potential premiership glory by remaining at Hawthorn.
"He's been dominating the pre-season and obviously finished the end of last year as he did," Hardwick said.
"He really turned a corner and surprised everyone and I think himself as well. He's a vital part of the squad now and I definitely hope we keep him."
While non-finals contenders started their pre-season training earlier, the Hawks - having played finals and falling agonisingly short of a preliminary finals berth - didn't start their 2025 campaign until early in November.
In the first week, usually reserved for players in the first-to-fourth-year range, the Hawks had all but a handful of the playing list participate, showing their hunger to continue to improve.
The young leaders at Hawthorn set the challenge over the Christmas break to continue their high training standards to have them in good stead for the beginning of the season, hoping to turn around their poor starts in previous years.
"We have some young leaders coming through like Dylan Moore and Will Day. Their training standards are some of the best that I have ever seen and they drive it all," Hardwick said.
The arrival of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle in the free agency and trade periods has allowed the Hawks to have an incredibly flexible and versatile mix of players in contention for the starting 22, which will keep opposition teams guessing with the unpredictability of how the team will line up on game day.
"I definitely think it gives us an opportunity to adapt mid-game with what's working and what's not," Hardwick said. "We can do different things and that is definitely a strength of our team."
With these arrivals, it means that Sam Mitchell has the luxury of potentially moving Hardwick to the forward line, where he has trained all pre-season to date. He keen for the opportunity to bolster a forward line that is already jam-packed with quality players in Jack Ginnivan, Jack Gunston, Moore and Nick Watson.
"It's exciting and I have a bit more confidence this year, because I've found some proof that I could play forward last year," he said.
"I am a lot more confident this year with myself in that role."
While the media focus this pre-season has been on the new additions to the team that will benefit the backline greatly, Hardwick has been most impressed with the pre-season of Will Day, who is returning from a shoulder injury that curtailed the end of his 2024 season.
"'Daysy's looking great after the shoulder stuff at the end of last year. He's looking amazing," Hardwick said of the club's 2023 best and fairest.
With the Hawks' premiership campaign starting off in less than 50 days, the team is incredibly excited and Hardwick believes fans will see the excitement and joy of 'Hokball' continue on in 2025.
"Just concentrate on what we built last year and the energy and spirit and celebrations. We find when we are playing like that, that's when it works," he said ahead of the new season.
You can hear the whole interview with Blake Hardwick on the Talking Hawks Podcast.
