PLAYER REVIEW: #22 Luke Breust
One-club status beckons for Punky
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Our player reviews continue with much adored goal-sneak #22, Luke Breust. How was his season in 2021? Read on and find out.
#22 LUKE BREUST
2021 Stats:
General Summary:
Overall it was a pretty good season for Luke who produced 33 goals in 19 games played - a handy return for your crumbing small forward - especially when you are not winning many matches.
Punky managed to kick five bags of three goals, and registered two goals in a game on seven occasions.
His 1.7 goals per game average placed him above average in the entire competition, and was his second best annual ratio of the past five seasons.
Indeed he was inside the top 10 goal kickers in the competition before injury robbed him of adding to that tally in the last few matches of the year.
Having signed a new two year contract extension at the start of the 2021 season. He was always going to be a key ingredient to our attempted rebuild under Alastair Clarkson. And the importance of his leadership in our young developing forward-line was magnified with the loss of Jack Gunston for the season.
Dylan Moore, who seems to be Punky’s natural long-term successor in the small crumbing slash half forward role, had a ripping year and attributed much of his personal development to Luke’s mentoring.
It was unfortunate that in round 20 against Brisbane - having already kicked three and been a huge part of the resounding win against the Lions - he succumbed to injury in the third term.
Fortunately, the knee injury was not as severe as first thought - but enough to keep him out for the rest of the year.
Luke was named in the final team of the season in what may have been a sentimental effort to get him inside the MCG for our Clarko and Burger farewell against the Tigers - before he was an unsurprising late withdrawal.
After being put on the trade table following some GWS interest (and who wouldn’t be interested in recruiting him?), Punky chose to stay in Melbourne, honour his contract, and ultimately finish his career a one club, brown and gold icon.
Best Game:
Round 18, Hawthorn V Melbourne
On five occasions in 2021 Punky kicked bags of three goals, but it was his overall performance - as well as the three on the night, that made his performance against the eventual premiers his game best for the year.
Luke played his role to absolute perfection.
On top of the aforementioned three goals, he managed eight score involvements and five inside-50s - it was the perfect small forward’s game.
The only blemish on the night was his miss in the first quarter running to 30 which he should have drilled, but he finished the game beautifully with his trademark crumbing and snap to tie the game.
This was the exact type of performance we need consistently from our older brigade in 2022 and beyond as the young kids continue with their development.
Best Highlight:
Punky’s goal of the year was a ripper down in Tasmania on Anzac Day in round six - and it had all the classic Luke Breust trademarks.
As we fought back after a shaky start, Punky was called into play at the beginning of the final quarter.
With James Worpel thumping the ball forward from the wing, Luke wrestled off Ben Keays to get first bite at the footy.
As it came to ground he followed up with a clean gather, a fend off on Andrew McPherson, and a beautifully curated snap from 30 metres out.
It put us back within a kick, and was another reminder of just how good a small forward he is.
Social Love:
What you think:
Current Contract Status:
As late as February this year Punky signed on for a further two seasons, tying him up to the club until the end of 2023.
Interestingly it means that when his contract expires he will be on the cusp of turning 33 - and it has been rare that we have offered senior players anything more than a one-year deal beyond the age of 30.
With a two year offer to Isaac Smith before his treason and then the Breust contract signing, the one year contract trend seems to have been well and truly bucked.
Sign Up / Trade / Delist?
Ash says:
Like many of his teammates, I thought Breust battled through the first half of the season, but then again, who can blame him what with the haphazard ball delivery, key forwards still learning their craft and his great mate and longtime forward line partner Jack Gunston.
Like the team, he came good and he was in really good form towards the end of the season. The goal that sealed the draw against Melbourne was straight out of his textbook. Had he finished the season and not been injured and kicked, say, another six or so goals, he would have at least entered the discussion for the All-Australian squad. His numbers tend to stack up pretty well for inclusion in any case.
I would have had no issues had he taken the opportunity to move to the Giants, but given how many great Hawks have finished their careers elsewhere, it is pleasing he will likely play his final game in the same colours as he started.
Andrew says:
So so so happy that Luke is staying to see out his career at the club.
I was definitely open to seeing what we could get for any of our players, and at the end of the day I am not sure that what GWS offered for Luke was enough to convince me that we should have pushed harder to get him to agree.
Regardless, he comes back to Waverley and we can expect another 30+ goal season and a mentoring/development role for him over the next two years as he teaches and guides the likes of Moore, Brockman and co.
Glad we get to see a few more of his trademark snap goals in 2022 and beyond.