Hawthorn star midfielder Will Day is anticipating his full-contact training to recommence by the Christmas break, as the 23-year-old continues to reintegrate with the main group after recovering from a complex collarbone injury.

Day suffered the collarbone break in a friendly-fire collision with fellow Hawk midfielder Jai Newcombe in Hawthorn's Round 23 clash against Richmond.

Suspected as an SC joint injury, further scans revealed Day's windpipe and blood vessels were at risk of additional trauma if another blow was landed in the same area.

Day was sent in for surgery after Hawthorn's heartbreaking semi-final exit to Port Adelaide, and has since been rehabilitating.

Day's influence was a major contribution to the Hawk's rise in 2024, although a stress fracture held the 23-year-old out of the side until Round 7. From there, the Hawks would win 12 out of 16 games with him in the side, before his collarbone injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season, despite hope for a late finals return.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 04: Will Day of the Hawks in action during a Hawthorn Hawks AFL training session at Waverley Park on September 04, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

In Hawthorn's return to pre-season in November, Day has gradually participated in contact training and will begin to fully immerse himself with the main playing group in full-contact scenarios within the next fortnight, per AFL.com.au.

Additionally, young forward Sam Butler has impressed in his return to training from a broken leg. Butler suffered the nauseating injury in a VFL match for Box Hill in April, where play stopped for over 30 minutes, and the quarter ran for over an hour.

The 21-year-old emerged as one of the best in Hawthorn's six-minute run test, demonstrating promising signs of his recovery. The young Hawk played two senior games in 2024, with a career tally of 19 from three years on an AFL list.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 02: Sam Butler of the Hawks handpasses the ball during the 2023 AFL Round 16 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Carlton Blues at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 2, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Triple-premiership hero Luke Breust will continue a modified program into the New Year as he recovers from a lingering groin issue. Skipper James Sicily will also continue to train with a slightly altered approach as he progresses from post-season shoulder surgery.

Torn ACL sufferers Mitchell Lewis and James Blanck are back running, with the former only recently granted the green light.

Hawthorn will be hoping to have the majority of last year's injured men available for their Opening Round clash, which comes against runner-up Sydney at the SCG on Friday, March 7.