Draft Watch – Who should we be targeting?
A look at who the Hawks should have their sights on with our first pick at the upcoming draft
Irrespective of the strong opinions of former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, it is abundantly clear that the AFL National Draft is the vehicle to bring in the foundational pieces of a premiership contending team.
Hawthorn’s famed ‘threepeat’ side of almost a decade ago is proof of this, with the team boasting elite talent such as Luke Hodge (1), Jarryd Roughead (2), Lance Franklin (5), Jordan Lewis (7), Shaun Burgoyne (12), Cyril Rioli (12) Grant Birchall (14), Isaac Smith (19), Jack Gunston (29) plus many more. All players having been selected in the top 30 picks of their respective draft classes.
In 2021, Hawthorn made a concerted push to rebuild via the draft, bringing in high end talents Josh Ward (7), Sam Butler (23) and Connor Macdonald (26) with first and second round picks.
The Hawks, under Mark McKenzie and his team, will look to do the same again at this year’s draft, with the club currently holding picks 6, 24, 41, 48, 50, 52 and 65.
Hawthorn have indicated that they are looking to take four, possibly five picks at the draft, yet they currently hold seven. This indicates that trades are coming, though whether these trades happen in the next couple of weeks or live on draft night is still to be determined.
In the lead up to the draft, Hawks Insiders will look through some of the potential options available in the ranges that Hawthorn will be drafting, starting today with the Hawks top pick, currently Pick 6.
Pick 6 (to be Pick 7) options
Elijah Tsatas
Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro | Midfielder
18/10/2004 | 186cm | 79kg
Incredibly highly rated midfield prospect who has shone through the junior system, making SSA and Metro squads in Under 16’s, 17’s and debuting for Oakleigh as a 16-year-old in 2021. Tsatas was played in multiple midfield roles over the course of the season including as a wingman, and in the coalface as an inside midfielder. Tsatas can do it all.
He has speed to burst from the contest, he knows how to find the football regardless of the position he is playing, his consistency in games and over the course of a season has been impeccable and his vision in traffic and with ball in hand is almost second to none in this draft class. Tsatas isn’t completely perfect, or he wouldn’t be a possibility to be on the board when Hawthorn make their selection, but he is almost the perfect addition to a Hawthorn midfield that is lacking a bit of x-factor.
Strengths:
Speed
Consistency
Production
Versatility
Vision
Improvements:
Strength
Kicking under pressure
Mattaes Phillipou
WWT Eagles/South Australia | Midfielder/Forward
27/12/2004 | 192cm | 89kg
Viewed by most draft experts as being the first South Australian to be drafted in 2022, Phillipou has enormous upside. The youngest player in the draft crop (17 years old until late December), Phillipou has the kinds of tools in his kit bag that make recruiters stand up and take notice.
A big-bodied player, Phillipou is more of an attacking than defensive midfielder at this stage of his career and will need to work on his two-way work once he is in an elite AFL environment. Phillipou excites clubs because of his skillset and incredibly high ceiling, which is why he will appeal to the Hawks, who will be looking for a point of difference for their midfield unit. Phillipou could be exactly what McKenzie is looking for.
Strengths:
Overhead marking
Athleticism
Hitting the scoreboard
Clean hands
Penetrating kick
Improvements:
Consistency
Field kicking
Cameron Mackenzie
Sandringham Dragons/Vic Metro | Midfielder
21/01/2004 | 188cm | 83kg
A reliable ball winner and consistently good user by hand and foot, there is real appeal to the simplicity and class in the way Cameron Mackenzie plays the game. The balanced midfielder is tied to St. Kilda’s Next Generation Academy through his dad, who was born in South Africa.
Fortunately for clubs at the top end of the draft, Mackenzie is no chance to last until Pick 40 and will be selected in and around the top 10 picks. Mackenzie averaged 24 disposals at NAB League level, with his team first approach and delivery by hand a foot the standouts of the way Mackenzie plays.
Strengths:
Decision making
Disposal efficiency
Stoppage work
Athleticism
Improvements:
Outside game
Bailey Humphrey
Gippsland Power/Vic Country | Midfielder/Forward
11/09/2004 | 185cm | 86kg
Bailey Humphrey has bolted into top five calculations over the second half of the season. Humphrey has gone from being a dangerous forward option to a legitimate inside/outside midfielder this year. He has exceptional hands, especially in contested marking situations, is incredibly powerful in the way he plays, hitting every contest at full speed, his kicking is powerful but can be inconsistent and he seems to have a knack of hitting the scoreboard on a consistent basis.
A high-level character and leader, Humphrey captained Gippsland Power in 2022. Clubs, including Hawthorn, will be circling Humphrey’s name because of his high ceiling, ability to impact the game and because he is legitimately a dual position player.
Strengths:
Power
Marking
Contested work
Penetrating kick
Leadership
Impact on games
Improvements:
Kicking Consistency
Endurance
Jhye Clark
Geelong Falcons/Vic Country | Midfielder
23/07/2004 | 181cm | 77kg
Having been likened to Joel Selwood in most player comparisons, it’s easy to see why Jhye Clark is a name on recruiters’ lips. Clark can do almost everything you want from a balanced midfielder. He is strong and competitive in the contest, can use the ball well on the outside and is very strong overhead for someone who stands at 181cm.
Clark is the ultimate professional and the type of player you want to go to battle with. He uses the ball well in traffic and keeps it simple when going forward.
Strengths:
Skills
Leadership
Consistency
Production
Reliability
Improvements:
Explosiveness
Outside game
Who should Hawthorn draft?
There is a lot to play out prior to Hawthorn being on the clock on draft night, who will bid on Will Ashcroft and when? Will North play it straight and select George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel? What will AdrianDodoro and the Bombers do? Will Gold Coast be hesitant on drafting players who have a preference to stay in Victoria?
All of these questions will be answered in one way or another by the time Gill McLaughlin steps up to the microphone to announce Hawthorn’s selection, but all of these decisions will have an impact on who is available at that time.
The Hawks have built the foundations of a solid long-term midfield unit, with Newcombe, Moore, Ward and Macdonald, but there is a need for something different, some x-factor to be added.
Hawk fans should be comfortable with McKenzie selecting any of the names mentioned in the article, but if given the choice, and if available, Elijah Tsatas has to be the pick for Hawthorn.