“He’s just a good person”
A tribute to Jarman Impey from someone who knows him best
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My daughter has plenty of photos with Hawthorn players, but only one sits in her room. It’s a picture of her and Jarman Impey — and she’ll probably hate me for saying this, but it’s on her bedside table.
We saw him in a cafe in Malvern a few years back, not long after he’d joined from Port Adelaide. I don’t like bugging players when they’re eating — or really at all — so we waited patiently until he headed up to the counter to pay.
Then we pounced.
I can’t quite put my finger on what made that interaction different, but there was a warmth to him that was impossible to ignore. He wasn’t going through the motions or phoning it in. He was genuine. You can’t fake that trademark smile. That Gucci jumper was genuine, too.
Jars and I have a mutual friend in Carlton premiership player and fellow member of the AFL’s 200 Club, Glenn Manton. We properly met for the first time at a Christmas lunch at Glenn’s place a few years ago.
Unbeknown to me, Glenn had worded Jarman up that I was a Hawks fan (with a podcast, no less!). And even though I tried to keep my inner fanboy in check all afternoon, when I got up to leave, it was Jarman who came over and gave me a huge hug.
Then there’s our Hawks Insiders intro, with that naff guitar riff and Luke Breust kicking things off with his now-iconic (to us, anyway) opening line:
"Hey Hawks fans, Luke Breust here…"
CJ even pops up with a cameo, but it’s Jars who steals the show.
"Go Hawks, here from Jarman Impey, for the Insiiiiideerrrrsssssss."
He didn’t just understand the assignment — he smashed it out of the park.
And that’s just how he seems to approach everything. It’s hard to think of a player more universally loved than Jars. As Sam Mitchell said in his pre-game press conference:
"Probably not meant to have favourites, but if we did, he’d certainly be in that conversation… And I think if you talk to the players about who they love playing footy with, he’s certainly first or second in that conversation from just about everyone."
That’s not to undersell his achievements on the field. Since joining from Port in 2018 — just like Shaun Burgoyne, it’s hard to even picture him in teal — he has become a bedrock of one of the league’s best backlines. He’s courageous and daring, with electric pace and attacking traits you can’t coach. After his podium finish in last year’s Peter Crimmins Medal, he’s playing the best footy of his career.
A proud Yorta Yorta man from Shepparton, Jars has been a leader beyond just Hawthorn. He was part of the extended leadership group for the most recent Indigenous All-Stars team that took on Fremantle, captained the Hawks during last season’s Sir Doug Nicholls Round, and even co-designed our 2023 Indigenous guernsey.
Few are better placed to pay tribute to Jars on the eve of his 200th game than Glenn Manton. The pair first met long before Jars was drafted, but their bond has remained strong—particularly through adversity. There was the ACL against the Cats in 2019 and the ankle issues in 2021. But the loss of Jarman’s father, Glenn, in 2016 has loomed large in his story too.
"I think my name played a part in that—his father’s name was Glenn, and mine is Glenn with two ‘n’s. That might not seem significant, but it gave us a starting point."
DARREN: I'm really curious to know—how did you first meet Jarman, and how did you start working with him?
GLENN: I met Jarman through the AFL Junior program. He was part of the country team, and I was coaching in that space. From the moment I met him, I knew he was a special person — both on and off the field.
DARREN: What first struck you about him?
GLENN: His generosity and vulnerability with other people. Those were the standout qualities for Jarman. Too many athletes are judged by how fast they can run or how far they can kick, but there’s incredible value in having players who know how to be vulnerable, who serve others, and who share love.
Recently, [CLUB REDACTED] made a statement about wanting to “share more love,” and it struck me as immature as it had taken a number of dire circumstances for people to recognise the value of love, connection, and care. But for Jarman, that’s who he is at his core.
DARREN: That’s terrific. But as a footballer, there must have been raw talent there too, right?
GLENN: Absolutely. His Indigenous background gives him a unique, supple way of moving — not subtle, but supple. His talent was obvious. But, as I’ve said before, I truly believe his greatest talents lie in his ability to connect with people.
DARREN: He also faced a lot of adversity growing up, particularly with his father’s death. Do you think that shaped him into the resilient person he is today?
GLENN: I don’t think we’ll ever truly understand why two people, standing at the same crossroads, take different paths. Trying to explain Jarman’s rise to prominence, given his background, is a mystery to everyone except perhaps Jarman himself.
What I do know is that he has faced those challenges head-on. He’s used them as learning experiences, stepping stones, and found a way forward every time. For those who don’t know what those challenges have entailed, it’s worth doing some research.
DARREN: You’ve worked with a lot of young players over the years. What made you and Jars stay close beyond that initial program?
GLENN: I think Jarman was intrigued and excited by who I was, just as I was by him. When you have two people who genuinely want to build a relationship based on connection and respect — and now love, because I absolutely love him — then you can’t really go wrong. He’s part of our family.
DARREN: When you first met him, was he still living in Shepparton, or was he already with Port Adelaide?
GLENN: This was before Port Adelaide — I knew Jarman well before he was drafted. At the time, he was moving between Shepparton and Melbourne. He was just a kid.
I actually have a photo of us from back then, and he looks like he’s about seven years old in it!
DARREN: What was he like when you first met?
GLENN: He was a thirsty human being—always wanting to learn, always happy to talk to people. Over the years, he’s developed the ability to sift through the information people share with him, take what he needs, and keep growing. If you have time for people, you have time to acquire knowledge.
DARREN: Are you surprised he’s reached 200 games? Did you see that in his future when you first met him?
GLENN: I’m surprised anytime a player makes it to 200 games — it’s such a difficult sport to maintain consistency and health. If it weren’t for significant injuries over the past five years, he’d probably be pushing 240 games by now.
Very few players get to 200 games. I was lucky enough to achieve that milestone myself, and it’s the only piece of memorabilia I keep in my house — a caricature for the 200 Club. I recently told Jarman he’ll be receiving a similar piece, and I think it’s really special.
DARREN: The incredible thing about Jarman is that he seems to be playing his best footy now. He finished top three in the Best and Fairest last year and keeps getting better — usually, that’s the opposite trajectory for players, especially ones known for their pace.
GLENN: The great thing for Jarman is that Hawthorn has — at least to some degree — really understood who he is. That puts him in a great place to succeed, which, of course, benefits the club as well. It’s not rocket science.
DARREN: Absolutely. He’s played 125 games for Hawthorn and 75 for Port, but for Hawks fans, it’s almost hard to remember him playing for Port — it feels like that was just a dress rehearsal for his real career.
GLENN: Exactly. And he’s such an unselfish player — he just fits into the team and does what’s required. If he had more spotlight — not that he chases it — people would appreciate his game even more. He’s the type of player who deserves to have a spotlight on him.
DARREN: Do you have a favourite Jarman moment on-field?
GLENN: There’s going to be plenty of coverage of that, so I don’t need to add to it. But he’s an electric player. If things go well, he could end up with 180+ games for Hawthorn. But the bigger goal is playing some great finals footy.
DARREN: I think everyone at Hawthorn, from the fans to the club, just loves Jarman. And he’s really emerged as a leader. That wouldn’t surprise you, though?
GLENN: Not at all. In fact, I’m absolutely certain he’ll do even more important work in the community after his football career. He’ll be a leader, a mentor, and a role model.
DARREN: What do you think this achievement—200 games—means to his community back in Shepparton and the Yorta Yorta community?
GLENN: It provides hope. It creates a pathway. It shows that if you do as many of the “right things” as possible, you can achieve incredible things—not just for your legacy, but for yourself. He should be incredibly proud of what he’s shared with his community, both intimately and broadly.
DARREN: And his leadership within the Indigenous community — like being an Indigenous All-Stars captain — really speaks to that as well.
GLENN: At the end of the day, he’s just a good person. And good people are hard to ignore.
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This article is first class, just like Jars
What an awesome guy. We're lucky to have him at the Hawks.