Jarman Impey has faith in Hawthorn’s next generation of midfielders to step up in the absence of Will Day and after the club’s failed pursuit of Zach Merrett.
The Hawks will be without Will Day for the first half of the season following shoulder surgery to leave a big void in Sam Mitchell’s midfield.
That midfield hole is further magnified by Hawthorn’s inability to land Merrett during the trade period in addition to James Worpel’s departure to Geelong in free agency.
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But Impey was optimistic that they had the necessary young talent emerging and more than enough options otherwise to roll through the midfield to help cover the loss of Day.
“I can understand that Merrett (conversation) might rise a bit. But that’s life and that’s football,” Impey told foxfooty.com.au.
“People get injured. You need a bit of luck in this industry, I’ve said that throughout my whole career.
“It’s a long season, so hopefully we get Day right at the right time, when it matters most.
“It makes — or I don’t know if forces is the right word — the younger ones to step up. And they’ve been doing that.”
Impey named Cam Mackenzie, Connor Macdonald and Henry Hustwaite as well as draftees Jack Dalton and Ollie Greeves as on-ball options that have impressed over the pre-season.
The Hawks veteran also pointed out that the likes of Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson, Dylan Moore and Josh Weddle can also plug in as midfielders when required.
“There’s so many players, we’ve got so much talent on our list,” he said.
“This industry will critique us on the smallest things, week in, week out. But I’m really confident in the personnel we’ve got, the facility and the four walls to make someone the best player they can possibly be.”
While conceding missing out on Merrett wasn’t ideal, Impey said it’s not something he or other Hawthorn players dwelled on for too long.
“To be honest, it wasn’t something the players spoke about heavily,” he said.
“Yes, everyone knew what was going on and it was like: ‘Oh, he’s a really handy player. Imagine if we got him, he’d be awesome for us’.
“We always want to get better and add another string to our bow. He would’ve suited the outfit really well.
“But it didn’t happen and that’s life. I don’t think we dwelled on it or kept our heads around it, it is what it is.
“The deal didn’t get done, we wish him all the best. It’s going to be an interesting match when we come up against him, there might be a few cheeky things said!”
They won’t have to wait long for that first showdown, with Hawthorn to face Merrett and the Bombers in Round 1 at the MCG.
The Hawks failing to land Merrett meant it was the first off-season in several years they didn’t add any players via trade or free agency, instead losing Worpel, Changkuoth Jiath and Jai Serong.
It’s a recruiting tool that’s made Hawthorn’s resurgence under Sam Mitchell such a success including the additions of Tom Barrass, Josh Battle, Jack Gunston, Jack Ginnivan, Mabior Chol, Massimo D’Ambrosio, Karl Amon and Lloyd Meek over the last few years.
Yet Impey wasn’t concerned that the club didn’t add any players ahead of another flag tilt.
“We’ve got a lot of belief in our group and in our players. We just hope we can create an environment where we can play our best consistently,” said Impey, a former recruit himself from Port Adelaide at the end of 2017.
“Yes, we are confident in our list. We do have strong characters around the place to not let standards slide or dip.
“We look forward to the season. It’s been a good last two seasons, so we look forward to going again and hopefully one game further. But you need luck.”
While the club has aggressively pursued stars from around the league in an approach led by Mitchell, the rising Hawks’ own homegrown talent is now being courted.
Essendon has reportedly been circled Josh Weddle with a big-money offer, but he’s set to rebuff that and re-sign with Hawthorn, while Mitch Lewis is sure to be a target for rivals in a year he’s eligible for free agency.
As with any improved team, the hunters have become the hunted. And the shoe is on the other foot after Hawthorn attempted to poach an Essendon star.
Impey is confident the Hawks will be able to keep their budding core together, even suggesting it might take for players to sacrifice financially for the greater good, like the club’s dynasty teams of years past.
“They’re clearly going to get looks at other clubs, because we’re playing OK,” Impey said.
“There’s a reason why they didn’t leave two, three, four, five years ago when we weren’t playing finals or weren’t in the mix.
“We’re very confident we’ll keep these players. If you look at previous history at the Hawks, they probably had to take pay cuts to keep good players around.
“Hopefully we can do something similar and get everyone fit and healthy and out on the track.
“It’s a credit to the club — board members, all our staff, coaches, head of football and the CEO. They’ve planned this and you can sense we’re at the right spot at the right time.”
It comes as Hawthorn begins a new era in 2026 with the move to its new Dingley facilities.
Impey said it has a “real professional, special feel” as they “make it our home” and a “really good place to come in each and every day”.
“It’s close to home, so I’ve been waiting for that place to be built for a while now!,” he cheekily added.
That proximity to home is all the more valuable for Impey now, following the birth of he and wife Anabelle’s first child, Zion, last May.
Impey put part of his brilliant 2025 season at age 30 down to becoming a father — or “dad strength is what a few of the boys have been saying.”
It’s also made for a “different” but “enjoyable” pre-season as Impey, like Hawthorn, embraces his new chapter.
“It’s been really pleasing. I love waking up and seeing my son and I look forward to coming home,” he said.
“It just fits arm and arm. I get everything out of myself at work and do everything I need to do. And I’m able to get home back to the family when I need to.
“Having that balance has probably helped coming home and switching off from the world.”
As the Hawks set out to go a couple of steps further in 2026 after falling on the preliminary final stage to arch rival Geelong, Sam Mitchell is maximising everything at his disposal.
The Hawthorn coach revealed he’s turned to artificial intelligence this pre-season in a move that’s received a mixed response.
So exactly how has Mitchell been utilising AI?
“Sam doesn’t talk anymore, he just uses AI … nah, that’s a joke!,” Impey said with a laugh.
“The world is changing, right? You can be ignorant and arrogant — or however you want to put it — and not want to learn further or deeper.
“I think AI has come into the world and we can all use it to benefit ourselves, so that’s basically what we’re doing.”
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