"Don’t put a ceiling on what this group can do"

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“If we get the development right, we should be even better in ’27, ’28 and ’29.”- Rob McCartney

Our first ever live panel show at the Kennedy Community Centre was one of those nights that reminded us how special the Hawks Insiders community is. From guided tours of the facilities to special guests (including some unexpected ones in the crowd!), the Hawks really rolled out the brown and gold carpet for us.

For those who couldn’t make it along — or if you just want to relive the night — we’re publishing the full panel interview with Hawthorn Executive General Manager of Football Rob McCartney and Box Hill head coach (and Hawthorn development coach) Dave Mirra as a pod.

Rob gave a few clues about the next wave of players pushing for their Hawthorn debut and the famous Rule 529; while Miz offered a fascinating insight into how the Box Hill–Hawthorn pipeline actually works behind the scenes.

🗣️ Key talking points:

* What the club really took away from the Bulldogs practice match;

* Why Hawthorn still sees itself in a development phase, despite last year’s prelim;

* The young Hawks pushing for debut opportunities in 2026 — including Will McCabe, Aidan Schubert and Cam Nairn;

* How players like Josh Weddle are being developed to become genuine “fix-it” weapons across multiple positions;

* The continued growth of the Hawks’ young core including Josh Ward, Cam Mackenzie and Nick Watson;

* The role Box Hill plays in fast-tracking players for AFL football; and

* How the new Kennedy Community Centre is already changing the way players prepare and recover.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation that gives a real sense of where the Hawks are heading — and why there’s so much excitement building around this group, not just for 2026 but beyond.

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