The Return of the Captain | Sam Froling’s Road to Redemption

In March 2025, during the heat of a Grand Final battle in Melbourne, Hawks Co-Captain Sam Froling faced every athlete’s nightmare: a snapped Achilles tendon. What followed was nine months of grit, sweat, and absolute dedication alongside Alex Moore and Scott Muttdon.

In this exclusive look, go behind the scenes with Sam as he prepares for his NBL26 return. With 183 games under his belt, Sam is closing in on a spot in the Hawks' Top 10 all-time games played list.See what it takes for a champion to reclaim his spot at the top.

'Frols', the cornerstone of the Hawks’ identity, went down in Game 4 of the Grand Final series with a snapped Achilles. He had to watch from the sidelines as his brothers finished the job in Game 5, claiming that elusive championship. It was a bittersweet coronation for a man who had already climbed to 12th on the club’s all-time games list at just 25 years of age.

But champions don’t dwell on the "what ifs."

They get to work.

For the last nine months, Froling hasn't been chasing headlines; he’s been chasing the best version of himself. Working in the shadows with the Hawks' medical and strength minds—Alex Moore and Scott Muttdon—the co-captain has undergone a transformation. Moore calls it "Sam 2.0."

There’s a new bulk to the frame and a noticeable increase in upper-body power.Perhaps most intriguing is what he’s been doing away from the squat rack. Froling has spent these long months retooling the mechanics of his jump shot with Assistant Coach Matt Flinn, looking to add perimeter range to a game already defined by elite rim-running and a polished inside touch.

Froling currently sits on 183 games played. Should he return before the New Year and play the remaining games of this NBL26 season, he is on track to break into the top 10 in Hawks history.

While the team’s current 6-12 record is a challenge, his return isn't about being a "saviour", it's an unexpected bonus for the club after originally expecting Sam to miss the entire season.

Having the captain back in the locker room and on the floor simply provides a welcome lift and a sense of continuity as the group navigates the back half of the season.