Despite entering just his second season in 2021, promising youngster Will Day says he wants to adopt a senior role within the Hawks backline heading into next year.

Day played 11 games in a superb debut season in the brown and gold which saw him earn a Rising Star nomination and finish tenth in the Peter Crimmins Medal count.

With the departures of Ben Stratton and James Frawley from the Hawks back six, the 19-year-old Day said he was determined to help fill the void of his outgoing premiership teammates.

"I think last year I showed myself that I was comfortable at the level," Day said. 

"So I think this year I'm going to try and take that next step and try to be almost one of the senior guys back there and really take my game to the next level."

Finn Maginness earns his second consecutive time trial crown

As he returned for day one of his second pre-season, Day said his intentions were to remain a defender in 2021 but did not rule out a positional change further down the line.

"I think at the moment I'm probably most comfortable in the backline.

"But as my body matures a bit more, I'd probably like to see myself get up into the midfield."

Playing in just two wins from his 11 outings in 2020, Day said the lack of success in his debut campaign has filled him with motivation moving forward.

"Given that we only had two wins out of the 11 games I played, it probably makes me a bit hungrier to win a bit more this season."