Hawthorn’s first intraclub for the summer got underway in sweltering conditions at La Trobe University in Bundoora on Wednesday.

Coach Sam Mitchell divided his squad into ‘Brown’ and ‘Gold’ teams, with 21 players named in the stronger ‘Gold’ side to start the match.

In a Probables vs Possibles format, 15 Hawks plus a handful of Box Hill players made up the second-string line-up before they mixed the teams up after half-time.

Will Day impressed as a full-time midfielder for the duration of the game, gathering plenty of the ball, while rookie forward Fergus Greene also put his hand up for Round 1 selection after producing a strong performance.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Hawks from Box Hill at the start of this season, was involved in a handful of goals, combining with Dylan Moore for two direct goals.

Fresh from inking a new three-year deal, Moore was another stand-out on Wednesday, playing across half-forward in a role, bagging three goals in the first half.

Check out the quarter-by-quarter match report below.

QUARTER 1

Jai Newcombe, Ned Reeves, James Worpel and Will Day headed into the centre bounce for the Gold team to kick off proceedings for the day. 

After playing the majority of his career in defence, Day spent the bulk of the game in the midfield and looked the part.

Both teams brought the pressure early on, with neither team able to convert on the scoreboard instantly.

Second year youngster Josh Ward stood out with his running ability from the offset, earning touches and applying pressure all over the ground in the opening term.

Reeves and new recruit Lloyd Meek proved to be a strong combination on the Gold team in the early stages, working well in tandem.

Living up to his number seven successor Ben McEvoy, Reeves left the first break with a heavily bandaged head, but returned to play.

Luke Breust opened up the Gold team’s account, kicking the first goal for the day at around the 10-minute mark after showing some aerial prowess to pull down a strong mark from the skies.

The 32-year-old, who looked as good as ever, added another to his name later in the quarter.

Jacob Koschitzke started the game with several shots on goal thanks to some smooth deliveries from Dylan Moore, Blake Hardwick and Jai Newcombe, but was unable to convert.

Moore was proactive on the wing, while Jarman Impey got a lot of touches in the early stages.

Connor Macdonald was also busy, with multiple shots on goal in the opening stages but failed to convert.

In an exciting moment of the day, Greene kicked a beautiful goal from just inside the 50-metre arc.

Running defender Changkuoth Jiath looked solid down back for the Gold team, taking two strong back-to-back contested grabs.

QUARTER 2

The second quarter saw Meek take on Max Lynch in the centre square, with Reeves pushing forward.

Reeves and Meek continued to work well together, impressing in both the ruck and inside 50, with Meek’s contested marking particularly outstanding.

Known for his electrifying pace, Jiath again demonstrated his speed, moving the ball quickly out of defence.

Exciting recruit Karl Amon was finding plenty of the ball on the wing, an area in which also saw Conor Nash and Day spend some time. 

Impey continued to impress in defence, leading the charge for the Gold team.

The quarter finished with some heat among opposing teammates, with Amon, Denver Grainger-Barras and C Macdonald finding themselves in a friendly scuffle.

Greene continued to lead out strongly to take a mark 45 metres out from goal, upon his approach on goal he spotted Moore in a pocket who skilfully slotted the first of the quarter for Gold.

Reeves also converted on the scoreboard after taking a big grab in the goal square.

Young ruckman Max Ramsden competed for a Tyler Brockman inside-50 kick brilliantly, with Sam Butler crumbing equally well to snap home his first of the day.

Finn Maginness was given the role of running with Ned Long, and much like he showed last year, played a superb tagging role.

Impey showed himself as a somewhat of a general in defence, setting up rebounds with his neat foot skills.

Draftee Henry Hustwaite had a few moments in the second quarter for the Brown team where his composure and strength in the contest came to the fore.

Greene found Moore inside that forward pocket again, this time Moore found another target inside forward 50 with Newcombe gratefully accepting before converting his first of the day.

Both sides showed a willingness to move the ball via the corridor offensively, with daring inside kicks a feature of the first half.

QUARTER 3

Plenty of change in team make-up at half time saw a more even contest at the start of the third quarter.

Some positional changes also grabbed the attention of onlookers, with defender Blake Hardwick starting the third quarter up forward.

The 26-year-old converted a goal, earning applause from across the ground.

Key defender Sam Frost moved his way into some good defensive positions on multiple occasions to intercept forward forays.

After a dashing run in the opening half, Bailey Macdonald’s speed was noticed again as his blitz from the half-back flank caught the attention of fans.

The draftee looped in two or three times to ultimately find a target inside 50 that resulted in a goal.

Reigning Peter Crimmins Medal winner James Sicily sat out the second half with a minor ankle injury that wasn’t worth risking at this time of the year.

QUARTER 4

Frost proved a workhorse in defence, making a couple of goal saving spoils, including one on the bigger body of Reeves.

Greene also continued to get involved up forward until the very end, with his endurance a stand-out.

After some impressive run with roles against Long and Amon, Maginness was released in the final quarter in a standard midfield role.

It was a strong day for Moore who found plenty of the ball, however he was slowed down in the final quarter as Hardwick was able to put the clamps on the newly signed Hawk.

After taking over the club’s time trial crown, draftee Josh Weddle continued to show his endurance as tucked the ball under his arm late in the final term to help create another Koschitzke shot at goal.

Koschitzke was a force in the forward line, having more than half a dozen shots at goal but recorded just one major for the day

However, he took a handful of strong marks and was impressive doing the little things at ground level.

Draftee Jack O’Sullivan finished the game strongly, kicking two goals in the final term including one from a very impressive specky.

Brockman showed his pressure with good rundown tackle and also finished the game with a goal.

SCORES

GOLD    3.7      8.8    11.14     15.18 (108)

BROWN 1.0     3.1    5.1.         6.3 (39)

 

GOALS

Breust (3), Greene (2), Butler (2), O’Sullivan (2), Moore (2), Reeves, Meek, Macdonald, Newcombe, Hardwick, Koschitzke

 

INJURIES

Stephens (concussion), Sicily (ankle)

 

WHAT’S NEXT?

The Hawks’ pre-season steps up another gear with a match simulation against reigning premiers Geelong at GMHBA Stadium next Thursday. The club will then head to Launceston to host Collingwood at University of Tasmania Stadium on Thursday March 2 for its official practice match.