HBA HighMarks Day 1

Written by Ben Woollard from Alexandra Football and Netball Club Rebels

Today I started the HBA HighMarks program at the Hawthorn Football Club. I’m very excited and feel privileged to be here.

I was buddied up with Sam Mitchell (Captain of the Hawks) who is a lot different to what I thought. He is very laid back, very approachable and has a great sense of humour.

The players seemed pretty cool and were happy to show us around their facilities and gave up their time for us, I got good inside knowledge of the Club from Sam.

The facilities are great, new and very exciting! They’re very different compared to my Club; Alexandra Football and Netball Club which is fairly small (being it’s a local country club).

I attended a medical session with a trainer named Gary Snooks and also did a goal kicking analysis with Hawthorn High Performance Coach David Rath.

I might want to get involved in the medical training side of the AFL, so I learnt heaps from Gary. It was very interesting to hear what happens on training and game days.

I learnt a lot from the goal kicking session. I learnt to kick with my other foot and how important the angle of drop of the ball is.

I didn’t realise that the sound is different when I kick the ball well compared to when I’ve shanked it.



The 12 HBA HighMarks participants have a kick to kick with their player mentors.