IT’S A NEW look pre-season for George Hewett, who arrived at the Blues last year and straight into a settling IKON Park.

A new facility, coaching panel and a 39-man squad to get to know didn’t daunt Hewett, who enjoyed the challenge of proving himself to his new cohort, and isn’t giving up anytime soon – a challenge he is still embracing.

“I really liked the challenge last year of trying to earn the respect of your teammates, because that’s what you really want,” Hewett said. 

“I guess you just hit that danger period of it might feel too comfortable so you almost have to put yourself back into being a first-year player at the Club and earn respect again because it can easily be lost in the footy team, so I’m just trying to get that.” 

Swapping out swags and tents for beaches and hotels, Carlton headed to the Sunshine Coast for pre-season camp this year, the hot weather is definitely a welcome change for the team. 

Whilst Hewett enjoyed the rigours of camping, he is enjoying getting back to almost full training, recovering well after a back surgery that hampered the back second half of his 2022 season. 

“I really enjoyed that [2022] camp, it’s a lot different to the hotels and we all slept in swags and tents,” he said. 

“It’s beautiful [in the Sunshine Coast], it’s been nice and hot so the boys have loved it, it’s been a good couple of days so far.

“I’m probably doing 90 per cent of the training compared to the main group – I can’t wait to crack in and get going in the next couple of weeks.” 

Hewett settled in seamlessly to a star-studded midfield in Round 1, averaging 28 disposals, 12 contested possessions and five tackles a game, seeing him featuring in every game before injuring his back in Round 18. 

Using his physicality alongside the likes of Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh, Hewett is mainly focusing on getting his game back to that level and helping his teammates by playing his role. 

“[The midfield] train really well and hard together but I think we’re really good mates off the field, which is the main thing,” he said.  

“I think we get another year at it and we go again. 

“I’m looking forward to mainly playing my role, not doing a heap different, but just trying to improve on what I feel like I’m good at a little bit and hopefully it goes a long way to help my team be able to win games.”

Speaking of the midfield group, Hewett is roomed with Club larrikin Matt Kennedy, his fellow muscle in the centre of the ground. 

Both mids pointed the finger at each other, professing that they’re ‘Mr. Perfect’, but Hewett lauded Kennedy’s ability to read the room and keep the energy high within the group. 

“[Matt is] the main energy giver of the group, he’s got a very good sense of when to be serious and when to joke around, he’s just a great man,” he said.  

“He’s a good country lad.”