AFTER being plagued by hamstring injuries last year, young Hawk Zac Webster is hoping the program which turned around Cyril Rioli’s fortunes can have the same effect for him.
So far, so good.
The 20-year-old tore his hamstring four times during 2015, featuring in just eight matches in total at VFL senior and development level.
But a big pre-season has Webster hopeful he can make an impact on the field in 2016.
“It’s all going well – it’s just nice to be out on the track training with all the boys,” he told hawthornfc.com.au.
“I tore my hammy four times last year. It was a bit of a bummer, but I think we’re onto it this year.
“I’ve been doing the same program as Cyril, so the hammies are all good to date and hopefully it keeps going well.
Hawks star Rioli played just 12 games in 2014, but didn’t miss a match through injury in 2015 after completing a revamped pre-season program over the off-season.
Webster is hoping that program, which has included a lot of gym work and hill runs, will build the strength in his hamstrings and enable him to feature cosnsistently on the field this year.
His work ethic has already earned big wraps from Head Fitness Coach Andrew Russell, on both sides of the Christmas break.
Russell believes a fit Webster could be a chance to “challenge to play some senior footy” in 2016 after doing “everything that has been asked of him” plus extra work outside of his program.
And Webster has his sights set on donning the brown and gold for the first time in the upcoming NAB Challenge matches after an uninterrupted pre-season.
“It has been pretty solid,” he said.
“I’ve done most of the pre-season this year – and it’s pretty much my first full one.
“Probably just backing up every session has been the biggest challenge. It’s been pretty tough on my body… but I’ve been doing as much as I can.
“I want to play a NAB Challenge game, that’s my main goal, to do that and see how I go.”
Featuring in the pre-season competition would be a big step forward for Webster, who joined the Hawks with pick 48 in the 2013 Rookie Draft.
A lightning-quick forward, the Tasmanian is hoping he’ll have the chance to show Hawks fans what he can do in 2016.
“Probably my main position is that half-forward or forward pocket sort of role and rotating through the midfield as well,” he said
“I’ve been doing a fair bit of work in the midfield post-Christmas, so hopefully I can get a chance in there as well.”
