Pale Hawk covers up in the sun

Hawthorn footballers practise handballs during a training session at Mooloolaba.

Nicholas Falconer

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Hawks AFL at Mooloolaba Beach

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IF JARRYD Roughead was feeling a bit left out at Hawthorn's beach training session at Mooloolaba yesterday, he wasn't letting on.

While his tanned and ripped teammates were loving their time in the sun as they were put through their paces by local ironmen and women, Roughead stood out with his t-shirt and cap on.

"This isn't perfect for me," he said, making sure his fair skin and freckles were well covered.

The 24-year-old, who missed last season's charge to the finals after rupturing his Achilles tendon against Geelong in June, is also the only player on Hawthorn's list in doubt for the round one blockbuster against Collingwood.

But the way he chased after a skied ball during a game of beach cricket after the players had finished their work.

out suggested a return for the season-opener was a distinct possibility.

"At this stage I'm not certain. I'm confident it will be 100%, but I'm not going to rush it because I want to be there at the pointy end," he said.

Risk of sunburn aside, Roughead said he had really enjoyed the week on the Coast, despite the fact that head fitness coach Andrew Russell had made sure it had been no summer holiday for the squad.

"In previous years we've been to Coffs Harbour and New Zealand so it's been good to come up here with the great weather," Roughead said.

Russell admitted he chose the Sunshine Coast partly because he got married here. But he also said it ticked all the boxes needed for a successful training camp.

"We checked out every location between here and Byron and felt this was the best mix," Russell said.

"We'd definitely consider coming back."

The players head home tomorrow.