Hawthorn AFLW Senior Coach Daniel Webster summarised his side’s pre-season after an official practice match against Richmond on Sunday afternoon.

While the Hawks took a 37-point win in the pre-season clash, Webster saw the match-up as an opportunity to ensure players were primed for Round 1 in under a fortnight.  

Webster also addressed key absences from the practice matches and detailed the performances of a trio of Hawks who lined up in the Box Hill VFLW side last Friday night.

We summarised the post-match interview below.

On the practice match win over Richmond

“It was really good and important that we bounced back after last week. Last week was very much about getting game time into all of our players and today was a bit more of a tune-up with more of our experienced players playing. But it was good, good to play our way. I think last week we definitely didn’t play our way and that was a big focus today. I thought it was really good hit out for us.”

On Sophie Butterworth, Elli Symonds and Daisy Flockart’s VFLW appearances

“I thought they were great. Butterworth got a knock to her knee early which is always hard, but pushed through it and I thought her leadership and work rate were really good for a young player. Elli competed really well and backed up today which is nice and got some game time. And Daisy spent all day on-ball in the VFLW and was really good in and around the contest. They’re three exciting players of ours, it was good to get some big minutes in them at VFLW level.”

On Aileen Gilroy and Jenna Richardson's practice match absences 

“Going well. Gilly’s had a little niggle, so we didn’t want to risk her. And Jenna’s tracking well, we’ll give an update in the coming weeks.”

On the team's pre-season focuses

“It’s been good, obviously it is a really long period. And I think the good thing today is we saw what we’ve been working on, we wanted to improve our running capacity and how we move the ball and we wanted to be stronger in and around the contest, which I thought we were. And then just trying to play with a bit more speed in everything we do, and last week, probably didn’t get to put that on show with the conditions and playing a very good side. Whereas today it was perfect conditions, couldn’t get any better for footy, and it was good to see us doing those things.”

On Round 1 against Brisbane

“It’s exciting, Brisbane’s obviously a very good side and have been a very good side for a long time, so it’s going to be a big test for us. But we’re just excited and ready for the challenge, we’ve prepped well for it and feeling good, just can’t wait for it, it’s going to be a big game.”