AS PRE-SEASON training enters its most gruelling phase, Hawthornbest and fairest winner Brad Sewell says that one particular event during thefestive season gets him through - his mum’s Christmas lunch.

“I’ve got a shocking sweettooth,” Sewell admits.

“So come dessert on Christmas Day we have cassata and plumpudding and cakes and slices. Let’s just say there’s not much room for dinnerby the end of the day, that’s for sure.”

For Sewell, Christmas Day is a brief respite from theusually strict dietary guidelines which forbid the delicacies to which his sweet inclinations would otherwise lead.

“You’ve got to let yourself go for a day and that’s the wayit should be. You’ve got to get home and enjoy your mum’s cooking and letyourself go and Christmas lunch is a great way to do that.”

The 23-year-old admits that one of the few opportunities hehas to indulge his sweet tooth is after games, when lollies are the choice ofsustenance in the changing rooms. It’s a window of opportunity of which he takesfull advantage.

“I’m shocking. It’s allowed after games for recovery. That’swhat they say anyway, so I’ll believe it for now,” he says.

The majority of the Hawks squad had a head start on this year’spre-season routine. Seventeen of the playing group, including Sewell, travelledto Thailandfor the end of season footy trip and partook in some warm weather training.

“You only need a couple to set the example, which we had,and then the rest follow because they start to get the guilts and end up doingsomething,” he says.

So who among the Hawks werefirst to get their training gear on while on holiday?

“Mitch (Sam Mitchell) and Clarke (Tim) were usually first upand the rest of us would be on our way for a run when they’d be coming back,”Sewell laughs.

In an off-season break that also saw the midfielder visit Las Vegas and LA, Sewellinsists that extra training is a necessary measure in the lead up to what is atough pre-season regime.

“You can’t go through the break without having doneanything. You’re just far too far behind if you do and that’s shown up alreadyin the last week. You have to keep active.”

As for pre-season so far, Sewell says the young playinggroup is coping well with the training demands and says that the most seniormember of the group, Shane Crawford, is also training well.

“Grandpa’s going well. He’s still leading by example andhe’s still running well,” Sewell laughs.

Having won the Peter Crimmins Medal, Sewell is rapidlydeveloping a reputation as one of the best taggers in the game. Known for hisability to nullify some of the games’ best, he’s modest about his achievementsand in particular his best and fairest award.

“I’m still sort of pinching myself in a sense to havereceived the award. With some of the names in the past who have received it, itcertainly doesn’t look right to see my name next to theirs. It will take awhile to get used to, I’d imagine.”

Sewell insists that modesty is a must at Hawthorn. In fact,his team mates wouldn’t have it any other way.

“The boys are very quick to bring me down to earth anyway.If you ever started to get carried away or start behaving differently, you’dknow about it fairly quickly. We’ve got a good group in that sense; no one getstheir feet too far off the ground.”

Sewell says he couldn’t carry out his tagging roleeffectively were it not for his teammates.

“I couldn’t have played the way I did without the help ofthe guys around me. That can often get overlooked at the end of the game. Ifyou’ve played on one of their playmakers and played well on him and he’s had no influence on the game, while thetagger may receive the accolades, what often gets overlooked is how many timesyour teammates helped you out, or covered for you or blocked him or tackledhim.”

As for his tagging assignments, Sewell says Brad Johnson is histoughest opponent.

“The smiling assassin got the better of me. He’s just such asmart player. He reads the game so well.”

But does the notorious grinningBulldog ever lose the cheery expression during a game?

“I don’t think he does. I think his smile gets bigger as he linesup on goal as well,” Sewell says.

Despite the challenges, the young Hawk has come to relishthe role of run-witj player and says he’ll be happy to occupy that niche again nextseason.

“At the moment we’ve got two of the best ballgetters in thegame in Hodgey and Mitch. They’re not going to lose too many contests so ifthey can keep getting the ball and I can keep playing my role and nullify oneof the more dangerous players we’re going to be okay.”

Sounds like a good combinationwhatever way you look at it.