If you’re eager to know what the players and coaches are up to heading into each match this finals series, get daily updates via hawthornfc.com.au as we document how the players are tracking in their match preparation. Our daily updates will count down the days until match-day as part of our extensive coverage of all things Hawthorn this finals series.

Monday 24 September - 5 days to go

A massive grand final week kicked off at the Ricoh Centre today as Hawks players arrived early to begin preparations for the 2012 AFL Grand Final.

First, it was Jordan Lewis and Jarryd Roughead who fronted the media in the multimedia studio to discuss the preliminary final win over Adelaide and the big one, the grand final match-up with Sydney.

Lewis said Luke Hodge is a certainty to lead the Hawks out in the grand final after overcoming a bug that forced him out of the preliminary final win over Adelaide.

It was then all about preparation, as a selected group of players ventured onto the oval for a very light training session.

The group included skipper Luke Hodge, Grant Birchall, Cyril Rioli, Sam Mitchell and a number of other senior players.

They were also joined by youngsters Taylor Duryea, Broc McCauley and Bradley Hill.

Light runs throughs and handballing drills were on the menu in the short session in the sunshine at Waverley Park.

HawksTV was on hand to capture the players running through their paces.


Players begin the session with a light jog.

It was then onto some handballing drills in groups of three.


It's Xavier Ellis' turn to run backwards and have Luke Breust and Taylor Duryea compete for the ball.


Cyril Rioli, Sam Mitchell and Chance Bateman team up for the drill.


Luke Breust fires off a handpass to Sam Mitchell.


Did you know Sam Mitchell can bounce a footy like a basketball?


If there was any doubt, Luke Hodge was definitely out on the track today, as was Jack Gunston.