Hawthorn captain James Sicily is already anticipating a fiercely charged atmosphere for the Hawks' opening-round AFL grudge match against Essendon, a clash intensified by a series of aggressive off-season recruiting moves between the two arch-rivals.
Off-Season Recruiting War Fuels Rivalry
The animosity began when Hawthorn's bold pursuit of Essendon's star midfielder and captain, Zach Merrett, took the Bombers by surprise. Despite Merrett's expressed desire to leave, Essendon held firm and refused to trade their contracted skipper.
In a retaliatory strike, it was revealed that Essendon then targeted Hawthorn's emerging gun, Josh Weddle, presenting him with a monumental contract offer. The reported seven-year deal is valued in the region of $10 million, a huge play for the 21-year-old defender who still has one year remaining on his current contract with the Hawks.
The AFL is set to capitalise on this fresh hostility, scheduling the two clubs for a blockbuster MCG clash on March 13 to open the 2026 season. A crowd exceeding 80,000 spectators is anticipated.
Sicily Backs Hawks' Aggressive Approach
Speaking at the official opening of Hawthorn's new $113 million Kennedy Community Centre at Dingley, Sicily acknowledged the added drama. "There's a lot of history there and the games are usually big, but obviously there's the extra added theatre with what happened in the off-season," Sicily said. "That just creates a great spectacle and there will be an awesome atmosphere."
The Hawks' aggressive recruiting strategy, spearheaded by coach Sam Mitchell, has ruffled feathers across the league. However, Sicily fully supports the club's efforts to bolster its list in the quest for a premiership, describing it as the "new normal" in modern football.
"I admire the club's efforts to bring in players that will make us better, like every club does," he stated.
Weddle's Mega Offer and Club Culture
Sicily revealed that Weddle's lucrative offer from the Bombers became a source of light-hearted banter amongst the playing group. "We gave him a bit of grief for that because he still didn't shout any of the boys over on our Euro trip when that got announced," he joked.
He went on to say that such offers are to be expected for the club's talented young players. "That's where you need to make sure your environment is amazing, your culture is amazing and your facilities are amazing, so that when people are offered contracts that are maybe 20 or 30 per cent more than what they'd get offered here, it's not good enough to leave."
Sicily believes the new Dingley facility will be a key factor in providing that competitive advantage.
Injury Updates and Team Outlook
On a personal note, the 30-year-old skipper, who managed an abdominal and hip injury last season, reported feeling "regenerated" and is targeting a full return to training in January.
He also expressed strong confidence in young star Will Day, who is recovering from a foot injury that ended his 2025 campaign prematurely. "He's been here three times a week and he looks pretty strong. He's doing some running and training pretty hard," Sicily said. "We obviously wish him a clean bill of health... having a fit and healthy Will will definitely make us a better team."
