Hawthorn midfielder Will Day is preparing for the biggest game of his career after years of injury heartbreak, as the Hawks face Brisbane in Saturday’s twilight preliminary final at the MCG.
Both teams held their final training sessions at the MCG on Friday, with Brisbane opting for an open session with fans while the Hawks kept their cards closer to their chest behind closed doors.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Will Day opens up on ‘dark times’ ahead of prelim
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For Day, the preliminary final represents a moment years in the making after being sidelined for two consecutive September campaigns due to injury.
Two weeks ago, he had his first taste of finals footy against Fremantle in Perth, and the emotions were overwhelming.
The 25-year-old was in tears post-match and admitted to overcoming some “dark times” during his time on the sidelines.
“It all sort of just added up and came out all at once,” Day told 7NEWS of his emotional outpouring two weeks ago.
“Yeah I’ve had some dark times by myself but hadn’t really shown it in that way around the boys.”
The midfielder has spent more time in rehab than most, playing just six games last season with shoulder and foot issues.
This pre-season, a trip to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra helped get his body in check.
“The stuff that we could do there you couldn’t really do anywhere else in the country,” he said.
“Some of the things to just look at my running gait and tick off a few boxes that we hadn’t quite done yet.
“Things we could implement after that has been really reassuring for myself and gave me a lot of confidence.”
Day is now solely focused on lifting the premiership cup on the last day in September.
“The hard thing at the time is not knowing if you’ll get there in the end and a bit of relief as well finally getting to soak up these weeks,” he said.
“It’s always a great buzz, great time of year.”
Meanwhile, Brisbane are making their fifth straight appearance at the MCG on preliminary final weekend, with midfielder Hugh McCluggage admitting the nerves are still there despite their experience.
“They are still definitely there. Just because prelims you know they’re 50-50s they’re the flip of a coin sometimes,” McCluggage said.
“We’ve played in two amazing prelims the last two years. So just because you had that experience doesn’t make it any easier but it’s exciting at the same time that we’ve given ourselves another opportunity.”
Both teams are unchanged for Saturday’s twilight preliminary final, with coverage beginning at 4pm AEST on Seven and 7plus Sport.
