The Hawks invited one very lucky fan to join the players in an early morning strength and fitness circuit during their pre-season camp in Mooloolaba, to see just how hard an AFL pre-season can be.
Kicking off at 7am, Hawthorn supporter, Sam Tickner, took part in boxing, grappling and medicine ball exercises on the beach, partnering with the Hawks’ newest development coach, Chris Newman, as well as commando roll drills with Grant Birchall and Kurt Heatherley.
But after making it through just two rounds of the of the planned five full circuits, Tickner was forced to throw in the towel and concede his fitness levels, expectedly, weren’t quite up to matching those of an AFL footballer.
“They’re too good for me, I think I might have to stay a supporter,” an exhausted but grinning Tickner said as he stepped off the track.
“Nowhere near am I as fit as those guys out there, they’re bloody fantastic.”
While he confessed he was nervous about how his fitness would stand up against elite standards to begin with, all the work the Hawks players were put through still caught the long-time fan off guard.
“It was definitely a shock, definitely a shock, hopefully we can get in the water and go for a swim.”
The Hawks continue their pre-season camp in Mooloolaba until December 20.
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