Hawks prepare for round one ‘theatre’ after Dons’ Weddle contract offer, failed Merrett play

3 hours ago 2

Hawthorn captain James Sicily says Josh Weddle’s life-changing contract offer from Essendon will be a test of the Hawks’ culture, as they begin afresh after a failed bid to lure Zach Merrett.

The Bombers have offered robust utility Weddle, off contract next season, a seven-year deal worth up to $10 million.

This offer comes after the Hawks attempted to poach Bombers skipper Merrett, but the two clubs could not agree to a trade.

Hawthorn captain James Sicily and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the John Kennedy Community Centre opening on Monday.

On a day the Hawks officially had the John Kennedy Community Centre – their new training base in Dingley in Melbourne’s south-east – officially opened by prime minister and Hawks tragic Anthony Albanese, Sicily said Weddle’s future was an early challenge for the club.

“We have got a lot of young players that have really high ceilings and a lot of potential and have done really well at a young age,” Sicily said.

“That’s where you need to make sure your environment here is amazing, your culture is amazing, facilities are amazing, so when people get offers, contracts, that are maybe 20 or 30 per cent more than what they would be offered here, it’s not good enough to leave.

“So, I mean that’s what we will keep trying to do. Have a great environment where it’s fun, work hard – got everything here to make us better. And, hopefully, lucrative offers don’t get accepted, and we keep all of our good young players. That stuff is going to happen. We’ll see where it all lands.”

Sicily said Weddle, 21, had been the centre of friendly banter from his teammates.

“We gave him a bit of grief for that because he still didn’t shout any of the boys over on the Euro trip, when it got announced he had got an offer from the Bombers,” Sicily said, smiling.

The off-field drama between the two clubs will climax in a round one blockbuster next season at the MCG.

Hawthorn president Andy Gowers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese chat in the Hawks’ new indoor training base.

“I suppose there is that extra added theatre with what happened in the off-season. That just creates a great spectacle. There will be an awesome atmosphere,” Sicily said.

“Although it’s ages away, it will be exciting to play in, [before] 80,000 … a heightened atmosphere.”

Sicily was in good spirits about his own health. He said he had given his body the time off it needed to recover from a groin issue, having had an in-season procedure to fix a nerve that was sending pain to his groin. He remained on an injury-management training load for the rest of the season, helping the Hawks reach a preliminary final.

“Feeling good, regenerated. I think I will be back in full training in maybe January, so get everything right and, hopefully, have a better bill of health for next season,” Sicily said.

Another key plank for the Hawks is midfielder Will Day, arguably their most important player. Day’s season ended in August because of a navicular injury to his right foot, having also had a stress fracture in the same foot earlier in the season.

“He has been here three times a week and he looks pretty strong. He is doing some running and training pretty hard, so, obviously, wishing him a clean bill of health,” Sicily said.

“If he can do so, he is, obviously, a very important player for us. To think that we did pretty well last season to get to a prelim without him, having a fit and healthy Will will definitely make us a better team. He will do everything he can. He is a pretty professional kid. He is a leader.”

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