Mid-Year Review: Best First Year Player

Who has come into the Hawthorn line-up this year and lit it up the most? Our team have their say.

Jun 18, 2023

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During the mid-season bye period, the Hawks Insiders put their collective heads together to review the season so far. Everything from best first year player, most improved, who’s leading the PCM and what we’d like to see in the back half of the season.

This time around, we’re looking at the first year player who has come in and made the biggest impact so far. Our Insiders give their top tip for ‘Best First Year Player’.

Danny Prins

Josh Weddle: Weddle has burst on to the scene, collected himself a Rising Star nomination, and cemented himself a place in the Hawks team in the space of seven games. One of the few players on Hawthorn’s list who can make magic happen, Weddle is averaging 18 disposals, 4.5 marks, three one percenters and plenty of eye-catching moments. He has already shown why the Hawks were so keen on trading up to take him, and that’s without locking down a long-term position yet. The biggest (and most exciting) question for me is what position he best positively impacts the team. I’m hoping it will eventually be on a wing or as an inside midfielder.

Brad Klibansky

Josh Weddle: Since making his debut against the Bulldogs in round 7, Weddle has improved weekly and shown why the Hawks traded up to get him late in the first round in the 2022 national draft. Despite only playing seven games, Weddle already looks like he’s played 100 games. He has great composure and skill and can play a range of roles. We’ve already seen him play as a key defender and a running half back. His key attribute is his running capacity which will most likely see him play more up the ground in the future. Weddle has the potential to become an elite player of the competition in the coming years and will be a key pillar for the Hawks as they look to challenge for their next premiership.

Simon Morawetz

Seamus Mitchell: A player I feared was going to be consigned to the “what might have been” files. Seamus has found new life in his half-back role and has probably now worked his way ahead of CJ, Harry Morrison and Lachie Bramble in the pecking order. The spot is his as long as he keeps this form up.

Ashley Browne

Cameron Mackenzie has been everything as advertised since the time he was drafted. Smart, dependable, an excellent decision maker and ball user. He never appears rattled. He will play 200 games while barely raising a sweat. But Josh Weddle brings excitement. He already looks like he could play in about six different positions and has speed, flair and strength. He can take a beautiful contested mark and kick a long bomb goal. He will grow into a massive weapon for the Hawks and is already a fan favourite. He gets the nod here, just.

Andrew Weiss

Josh Weddle: The expectations leading into the season proper were that Cam Mackenzie was a shoe-in for this award. And despite his incredible time trials in the pre-season, we just weren’t sure about what Weddle was going to provide in a football sense. What he has given us since his debut has been exceptional. Being played in a variety of roles as a running back, key back and winger, he has had his full range of talents on show. I don’t think we will know for some time what his locked in position will be, but what we do know is that he has all the makings of a star player in future. The trade to get him in is looking a masterstroke as things stand and could just become the best of the entire draftee bunch in this re-development.