HOPE.
Let’s take a look at Hawthorn's next gen
Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen.
In context, the hope of most Hawthorn supporters is to be back where we believe we belong, fighting for silverware. Unfortunately, the reality is we are a long, long way from where we hope to be.
So, the question must be asked: if our hopes of a Premiership in the short term are dashed, where can Hawk supporters fill their ‘hope cups’? The kids.
This season we’ve sat in amazement at the emergence of CJ who has gone from a Category B Rookie to vital member of our back six, been excited by Jacob Koschitzke’s breakout game against Adelaide, and watched our “tallest ever player” Ned Reeves more than hold his own in the ruck against Marc Pittonet and Zac Smith.
So let’s take a look at some of our younger players, how they’re tracking in the VFL, and what we might hope to see from them in the back half of 2021 and in coming seasons.
The ones we’ve seen…
Emerson Jeka
We haven’t seen a lot of Jeka at AFL level, with his two games coinciding with big losses against St Kilda and West Coast.
But for anyone who is an avid Box Hill watcher, Jeka has been a shining light. He has done everything you could ask for at VFL level, with 13 goals in four games.
But it’s his all-round game that is exciting. He leads well at the football, marks the ball at its highest point and kicks beautifully with both sides of his body.
He’s banging the door down for another shot at AFL level and it is only a matter of time before he gets that chance and rewards selectors for it.
Tyler Brockman
Brockman started the season like a house on fire, kicking six goals in his first four AFL games. It has been a gentle simmer since then, with Brocky plying his trade at Box Hill between niggles and illness.
He is quick, enjoys a tackle, has beautiful foot skills, and can pull off the kind of freakish things Hawks supporters haven’t seen since Cyril.
Brocky needs to add some consistency to his game, as he tends to flash in and out of games at the moment. It will come, and when it does, look out.
Finn Maginness
Finn’s an interesting case, with supporters having high initial hopes and being disappointed with what we’ve seen thus far.
What we need to remember is that Hawthorn plays the long game with young players and Finn is a perfect example of this.
He has the body to stand up at AFL level, but he doesn’t have the running patterns or the tricks to back it up, yet.
Sam Mitchell is asking him to perform run-with roles against the opposition’s best midfielder and he will be better for the continuity and consistency of playing football this year - especially with 2020 being a write-off.
This may or may not be at AFL level, but even if it isn’t, it’s not panic stations just yet.
Josh Morris
‘Tank’ Morris is another interesting case, but with Josh it’s more around the “where does he fit?” and “what are his strengths?”
At VFL level he’s quick enough and strong enough to beat his defender on the lead, and he’s a solid mark and good set shot for goal.
We just need to see if he can do it at AFL level.
So far, he has flattered to deceive when given the opportunity, but hopefully we see a few more promising signs from Morris as the season winds down.
Damon Greaves
I think I speak for all Hawk fans when I say we were excited about what Greaves produced in the last three games of 2020. He was clean, efficient, and effective in everything he did. It was a coming of age - until it wasn’t.
It’s taken until Round 11 for us to get a glimpse of Greaves in Hawthorn colours. The start wasn’t great, but the fight back was promising. He’s definitely not flashy or exciting but Greaves holding down a spot in the back six allows players like Will Day and CJ to play higher up the field, using their run and carry to enter 50, not just rebound from it.
The ones we haven’t…
Connor Downie
Technically we have seen Connor, and what a debut it was *eye roll*.
There is an argument that being the medical sub really hurt Downie, who was progressing well in the pre-season until he did/didn’t play in round one.
He is now learning to play tight, hard football against bigger bodied men at Box Hill, and it has been a steep learning curve for him.
He may actually prove to be one of those players that finds it easier at AFL level than VFL level with the time and space on the wings of the MCG really suiting his run and carry game, compared to the tight surrounds of Box Hill City Oval.
Jack Saunders
Our new ‘Mighty Mouse’ is starting to show the kinds of traits we loved about our last ‘Mighty Mouse’, Ben McGlynn. He is small, quick, and tough as nails.
After an injury interrupted preseason, we have started to see what Saunders can do for Box Hill, and the most exciting this is the progression in the effectiveness of his field kicking, which isn’t too surprising considering who is coaching him.
If the level of development we have seen over the last month of football continues, don’t be surprised to see Jack get a game for the Hawks before the season is out.
Harry Pepper
There is something about Harry. He is nowhere near the finished product - and he may never get there, but his athletic profile and attack on the ball and the man with the ball gives me shades of CJ when he was first drafted.
The former basketballer (because that always needs to be referenced) just needs games pumped into him for the rest of the year.
Don’t expect to see him anywhere other than at Box Hill, but we just need to see some consistency and continued development from Pep and he will hold his spot on the list.
The ones who are injured…
Denver Grainger-Barras
No pressure Denver, but you are our great white hope for the rest of 2021.
DGB is due back after the bye, and there are hints that when he is fit, he won’t spend too much time at Box Hill. This is a very good thing.
He is our Rolls Royce, and you don’t drive your Rolls on a gravel road
If you haven’t seen Denver play, go back and watch a 17-year-old him in the WA vs Vic Country National Championship match. His intercept marking is a sight to behold, but the kid can shut down an opponent (ask Logan McDonald) and use the ball beautifully as well.
He is a bit of a character too and will be a fan favourite in no time.
Seamus Mitchell
Does Seamus Mitchell exist or is he just a figment of our imagination? Mitchell has been sidelined due to various injuries since he arrived at Waverley. Initially out due to knee and ankle surgery, Mitchell was progress well before some soft tissue injuries hampered his progress.
This is common for players returning from injury but it is frustrating for us as Hawks fans, who just want to see our young talent play.
Mitchell is described as an incredibly quick, skilful, and creative with a high football IQ – which is everything our team needs right now.
We can only hope for some progress with his recovery over the next few weeks, it will be exciting just to see Mitchell play any kind of football this season.
And the ones just selected…
Jai Newcombe
If you have seen Box Hill at all this year, you would have been impressed with the way ‘Duke’ Newcombe goes about it, let alone what he iss producing.
If averages of 23 touches and 7 tackles aren’t enough for a 20-year-old in his first half season of senior football, show me what is.
Jai is as hard as a cat’s head, attacks the ball (or the man with it) and revels in the inside stuff. We may have similar types already, but he enjoys breaking away from packs and delivering into the forward line with his penetrating kicking. These are two things we don’t have a lot of.
Newcombe has the potential to have a James Jordan (Melbourne Demons) type impact at AFL level when he’s given an opportunity, and if he is deemed fit enough, he needs to be given a game sooner rather than later.
Jackson Callow
Anyone for a contested mark? It may not be too much of a stretch to say that Jackson Callow is probably now the second-best contested mark at the club behind our skipper.
Marking is Callow’s one wood, it is what he does for fun. This is a good thing for us as fans, and its a nerve-wracking thing for our other key forwards.
Callow won’t be the fastest player on the Hawthorn list, but his strengths allow this to not be too much of an issue. The second half of the VFL season is going to be very interesting indeed.
Hope.
We need to hope. Hope that we see development of our younger players. Hope that opportunities continue to present themselves. Hope that when those opportunities come, these kids grab them with both hands and give them a shake. Hope that at least one or two players from the lists above can ‘pop’ at AFL level before the close of the season. Hope that we knock it out of the park in this years’ Trade Period and National Draft.
Hold on to that hope, Hawk supporters. There’s enough quality, talent and excitement coming through for us to be hopeful.
A good write up, thanks! There is much to look forward to.
The 2019 and 2020 draft crops have been decent. and the 2021 draft promises at least 3 Top 30 picks which will be a massive boost.
It is a numbers game. On average AFL players enter their peak years at about age 24 and should sustain this through about age 28. Get enough good players hitting their peak at about the same time you should have 4 or 5 good seasons.
12 players listed. Of these...
DGB should play over 150 AFL games. He should play a 20 game season in 2022 or 2023 and be a major contributor in 2023 and beyond
Of the remaining 11 - if we can get 7 or more playing 20 game seasons in 2024 or 2025 we will be doing above average and 2025 promises to be a good year. All of these should also have +100 game careers
Who are the magnificent 7? My bet is on Brockman, Mitchell, Downie, Greaves, Jeka, Callow and Newcombe.
I like Harry a lot but feel like he is about a season or two behind the others - he may be shuffled back by the next draft. Same goes for for Morris.
Mitchell is a complete unknown but the raps are good and as a Top 30 pick his odds of being in the 7 should be decent - losing the better part of year though is a setback.
Finn - odds are he will be at least an 80 game player for the Hawks - based on where he was drafted.
Saunders - could surprise but based on where he was drafted he should be a 50 game player.