David Mackay will join Hawthorn’s AFL coaching ranks ahead of the 2023 season as he steps into a development role.
Mackay will continue to maintain his AFLW responsibilities at the club, while also taking on the role of development coach within Hawthorn’s AFL program next year.
The role will see him work closely with some of the younger talent on the club’s list alongside new Box Hill Senior Coach/Development Coach Zane Littlejohn and Head of Development Andrew Collins.
The retired Adelaide star initially joined the Hawthorn-Box Hill alignment ahead of the 2022 season, taking on a coaching role in the VFL program while also acting as AFLW midfield coach.
During his playing career, Mackay notched up 248 games for the Crows across 15 years, retiring at the end of the 2021 season with the ninth-most games in Adelaide’s history.
Hawthorn Head of Football Rob McCartney said the club’s football program would benefit from having someone who possesses such extensive and recent AFL experience.
“Dave has been an outstanding resource to our AFLW program, so we’re thrilled to now have him also on board as part of our AFL program,” McCartney said.
“An instrumental figure within our inaugural AFLW campaign, Dave deserves a lot of credit for helping to develop our younger crop of players this year.
"Dave's inclusion to the AFL program is an additional role to our coaching structure compared to last season. With a young team we are committed and focussed on investing more into the development space.
“Dave has a strong passion for helping others improve both individually and as a team, an impressive work ethic, football expertise and genuine care for those around him.
“I have no doubt that his professionalism, knowledge of the game and passion for coaching will be a valuable asset to our AFL and AFLW program in 2023.”
Mackay's inclusion adds to an already impressive coaching roster, with the Hawks’ playing group set to benefit from an array of experienced voices next year including newly-appointed defenders coach Kade Simpson.
