Hawthorn is set to welcome another three-time premiership Hawk into its coaching ranks, with David Hale appointed as an assistant coach ahead of season 2022.

Following last week’s announcement of Andrew Collins’ return to the brown and gold, David Hale becomes the next piece in the club’s new-look coaching line-up.

Hale and Collins join Adrian Hickmott and the recently re-signed Chris Newman as the club continues to strengthen its 2022 coaching department.

Premiership Hawk returns to Waverley Park

Since his retirement after the Hawks 2015 Grand Final win, Hale has spent the past six seasons at Fremantle as an assistant coach.

Having first been drafted to North Melbourne where he played 129 games over eight seasons, Hale then moved to Hawthorn where he notched up 108 games and proved a vital part of the club’s premiership threepeat from 2013 to 2015.

Head of Football Rob McCartney said the club was excited to secure someone of Hale’s experience.

“David obviously had an outstanding playing career which he has then gone on to complement with six years’ worth of valuable coaching experience at Fremantle,” McCartney said.

“Through meeting with David a number of times, we’ve become acutely aware that we’re bringing in someone with a very strong understanding of the game and someone who knows how to get the best out of his players.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing the impact that David can have on our playing group as well as our broader football department.”