Hawks’ eye on repeat
HAWTHORN players have avoided a premiership hangover, returning to pre-season training fit and focused on back- to- back flags, young midfielder Alex Woodward says.
Woodward, recovering from his second anterior cruciate ligament rupture, is building back towards full training as he seeks his first game of football in two years.
Joining teammates on the club’s pre-Christmas training camp in South Africa, the 20- year- old observed a genuine hunger for repeat success.
‘‘ I think everyone is really motivated about trying to go back-to-back next season,’’ Woodward said.
‘‘ We’ve been a really focused group throughout the pre-season so far.
‘‘We’ve gotten the most out of ourselves, and we’ve really pushed ourselves hard. We’ve got that goal in mind that we do want to win another premiership, and the boys have done really well.’’
For Woodward, along with fellow knee victims Matt Suckling, Ryan Schoenmakers and Brendan Whitecross, the motivation is different.
All four suffered the disappointment of watching on through September, and desperately crave a chance to experience the glory their teammates did.