Oversight: An HFC list state-of-play
Daniel Prins runs his eye over the state of the list, and gives an in-depth analysis on what may lie ahead from a list management point of view
As the sun begins to set on season 2022 for the Hawthorn Football Club, focus changes from on-field performances to off-field decisions.
Over the course of the season, Sam Mitchell and his team have unearthed a number of young prospects, overseen the development of players who have taken their game to another level, and ultimately, they will have been left somewhat disappointed by those who didn’t take a step up, for various reasons.
It’s always hard to find a single source of contract information when it comes to the Hawks, with the below table comprised of various places, most notably from the team at Footywire, who are an awesome centralised source of information.
One thing is very clear - the Hawks head into the final round of the season with more questions than answers in relation to the composition of their list for next year.
There are a few clear player groupings in Hawthorn’s soon-to-be uncontracted players list, and Hawks Insiders are here to break them down for you.
The ‘rapidly ageing veterans’ group
Liam Shiels
Kyle Hartigan
We probably don’t need to spend too much time on this group, with both Shiels and Hartigan getting very close to the end of their respective careers.
Hartigan has been a solid stop gap since crossing from Adelaide, but with the emergence of James Blanck and more recently Emerson Jeka, and the need to continue to invest minutes into Denver Grainger Barras, Hartigan was always going to find it tough to get games at AFL level.
Shiels, on the other hand, has been an incredible servant of the Hawthorn Football Club and deserves to go out (semi) on his terms.
A farewell match against the Tigers at the MCG would be a fitting way to say goodbye to a player who has given everything he has to the club.
The ‘elder statesmen who are still incredibly important’ group
Jack Gunston
Luke Breust
Ben McEvoy
This is an interesting group because of some of the options of how things might play out.
Breust had the opportunity to join GWS in last years trade period and ultimately decided to stay. He’s shown just how valuable he can be and offers veteran savvy that will help developing smalls like Tyler Brockman, Dylan Moore, and Sam Butler as they develop.
Gunston has produced some incredible games and some not-so-incredible games over the course of the season, but when fit and firing has proven he is a walk up start in plenty of AFL teams. Does he get an enticing offer from north of the border, or does he decide to stay and usher in the next generation, it remains to be seen.
Likewise with the captain, Ben McEvoy, who has played in more wins than losses this year. After notching up his 250th game against the Suns, McEvoy is still publicly undecided on his playing future, and it will be one to keep an eye on as the season draws to a close.
The ‘we’re not really here’ group
Dan Howe
Tom Phillips
Dan Howe and Tom Phillips have been good VFL players all season, and that statement is intended as equal parts a compliment and a backhander.
Phillips has only managed the four AFL games this season, in part due to a serious injury, and in part due to a changing of the guard which has severely impacted Dan Howe’s ability to play at AFL level as well.
Players like Finn Maginness, Conor Nash and Harry Morrison have had fantastic seasons and ensured that positions aren’t easy to come by, and with this year’s draft crop all performing and earning games, there just isn’t the space for Phillips and Howe in the Hawks team.
It might be time for the ‘thank you for your service’ chat.
The ‘sort the contract out now’ group
Harry Morrison
This one is simple, give this man a new contract.
Morrison has exceeded all expectations in 2022, establishing himself as a starting wingman and averaging a shade under 20 disposals and 400m gained per contest. In fact, the only real negative thing about Morrison is the H-Mo nickname that’s come up this season.
For everyone’s sake, let’s pretend that nickname never happened.
The ‘get them sorted Peter Burge’ group
Seamus Mitchell
Connor Downie
Tyler Brockman
Emerson Jeka
It’s almost depressing that we haven’t seen a single AFL game from Mitchell, Downie, and Brockman this season.
Brockman had a rocky start to the season with niggly injuries before succumbing to a shoulder reconstruction which ruled him out for the year.
Downie and Mitchell were finally putting some games together at Box Hill before being struck down by soft tissue and lower leg injuries which brought about an early end to their seasons. Will they be around next year?
That’s the question, but a year under the watchful eye of new High-Performance Manager, Peter Burge wouldn’t hurt at all, and all three have the ability to play at the highest level if they can get their bodies right.
Jeka is a little different to the above, as he has played a couple of senior games late in 2022, but he is another that Peter Burge would be looking to get his hands on. A physical specimen with incredible talent, Jeka has had a tough run of it from an injury point of view this season, and with the right conditioning, is primed to break out in 2023.
The ‘could be in serious trouble’ group
Josh Morris
Jackson Callow
Jack Saunders
It might be a little bit harsh having Josh Morris in this group, as his form at AFL level before his season ending shoulder injury was promising.
But with the need to hit the draft and bring in midfield and forward reinforcements, and Hawthorn’s overstocked cupboard of half back flankers, Morris could find himself in a bit of trouble come season’s end. If nothing else, it’s fair to say he did what he could to keep his spot.
Saunders and Callow look to be in a bit of trouble. The Hawks picked up Max Ramsden and James Blanck in the mid-season draft, so will be looking to move on at least 6 players this offseason, and with similar players to Callow and Saunders going past them and playing at AFL level in the back half of the season, it’s hard to see how they keep their spots on the list come list lodgement time.
The cutthroat nature of the AFL means that there is little time and space for sentiment, but any time a player’s career at the club ends, it’s a sobering reminder of just how hard it is to make it at the elite level.
In Summary…
Overall, Hawthorn’s coaching, development and list management team will give season 2022 a big tick.
We’ve seen the explosion of young midfield talent in Conor Nash, Finn Maginness, Jai Newcombe, Josh Ward, and Connor Macdonald.
The expected and un-expected inclusions of potential key defensive options in James Blanck, Denver Grainger Barras and Emerson Jeka, and the young leaders of the football club in Dylan Moore, Changkouth Jiath, Blake Hardwick, Will Day, Mitch Lewis and Ned Reeves who have taken on a bigger on-field role all while cementing themselves as incredibly important pieces of Hawthorn’s future.
The Hawks are not where they want to be, a club this proud and successful doesn’t enjoy prolonged periods in the bottom half of the table, but they know the journey that they are on under first year head coach Sam Mitchell, and they know where they are going.
The biggest question now is who else will put up their hand to take them there?
You didn’t mention Chad Wingard under any of your headings. I really wonder if we need him. With Brockman, Butler and even maybe Impey you could argue we have that small forward position covered. If we could get some currency for him I’d let him go.
Point of clarification
I thought HI was beating the drums to trade out DGB, axe Kosi and find some value - draft picks or a trade - for the disappointing Will Day????
Or is that just the Bradster?