Hawthorn's failed pursuit of Essendon's Zach Merrett and the departure of James Worpel might have sparked concern among fans, but inside the club, there's no panic.
Midfield coach David Hale has thrown his weight behind two homegrown options, Harry Morrison and Massimo D'Ambrosio, to carry the Hawks' engine room forward in 2026.
Coming off a 15-8 season and a preliminary final appearance, the Hawks have reasons for optimism despite losing one of their key inside midfielders. Hale believes Morrison's consistency on the wing and D'Ambrosio's growing defensive game could make up for the off-season gap left in the middle.
"Harry Morrison had a really good year. He came back in really good condition in pre-season and played a good chunk of the year, but unfortunately got injured at the wrong time," Hale told Hawthorn Media. "He was really consistent and reliable on the wing and took his game to another level. The guys around him trust what he does. He brings a level of calmness to our playing group."
As for D'Ambrosio, the 21-year-old's continued development impressed the coaching staff, particularly in areas that had frustrated him previously.
Massimo had a consistent year. He's one of the first guys that comes in and goes through his tape and vision," Hale said. "Parts of the game we wanted him to work on, he has shown progression in this year, in terms of his defensive side."