Hawthorn midfielder Will Day in tears on final siren of Fremantle win after injury-riddled stretch

Emotions have come pouring out of Hawthorn midfielder Will Day after winning his first final following two years of injury heartache.

The smooth mover was forced to watch from the sidelines last year as his Hawks won their way through to a preliminary final against Geelong and lost in a classic, a year after missing his side’s run to a semi-final defeat to Port Adelaide.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Will Day’s emotional first final after two-year injury battle

Day played just 22 games between the start of 2024 and Round 12 this season as he has battled a horrific navicular injury, shoulder and collarbone problems, and recurring feet problems.

But since coming back into the team in half-way through this year, the 25-year-old has been managed beautifully and hasn’t missed a beat.

On Thursday night, he was one of Hawthorn’s best with 24 touches as the Hawks upset minor premiers Fremantle in a commanding 32-point win at Optus Stadium.

Speaking to Channel 7’s Bec Maddern after the game, he couldn’t hide his emotion.

“I can see that your eyes are getting a bit glazy here, but with good reason. You’ve had to watch on the sidelines for two years watching this Hawthorn team mount their finals campaign. And you played tonight and you won.”

“I don’t even know what to say, like, it’s been a pretty raw two years,” he said through tears.

“And to come in and everyone wrote us off and to come over and get it done here — it’s just so much fun. Like, I’ve dreamt of this as a kid.

“I just wanted to come in absolutely grateful and take away all the pressure, no expectation, and whatever was going to be was going to be tonight. And it was just so much fun.”

Hawthorn’s win books them a home preliminary final in two weeks after a result no one saw coming — except the Hawks themselves.

“We came in with a lot of confidence. We knew when we’re at our best we can get it done against anyone and it clicked tonight. It’s been a few weeks of putting a few things together but we got there so it’s been good.

“We knew they were never out of it. Like there have been so many games this year where they’ve mowed teams down. So we were on edge and I made it sweeter at the end.