AFL finals: Why Hawthorn and its ‘Hokball’ can win the premiership in 2024

Losing defensive pillar James Blanck on the eve of the season was supposed to be a disaster for Hawthorn. Instead, Sam Mitchell used it to kickstart the phenomenon known as Hokball. Here’s how.

They’ve been dubbed the ‘Hollywood Hawks’ and adopted by neutral footy fans, and Hawthorn is taking the AFL world by storm.

Sam Mitchell’s outfit has become the talk of the league, becoming just the second team in history to lose their first five games of the season and win a final, following on from the Swans of 2017.

A seventh-placed finish meant they weren’t supposed to be a premiership favourite, but after dismantling the in-form Western Bulldogs, many pundits are asking the question: How can they do it, and why will they challenge?

1. THEY DON’T CARE

That’s not to say they don’t care about their football. Instead, it’s the fact these young Hawks don’t shy away from the bright lights. They don’t care there’s added pressure, they’re welcoming it. The celebrations are an example of this mentality: players like Nick Watson are made for September.

Jack Ginnivan (left) and Nick Watson of the Hawks are interviewed by Abbey Holmes. Picture: Michael Willson

2. PLAN B, C, AND D

Successful teams need multiple game plans when things go awry. Sam Mitchell has built unprecedented levels of versatility across all lines. James Sicily, Blake Hardwick and Josh Weddle have all spent time forward with great effect, Jack Ginnivan has become an important linking half forward rather than a deep small crumber, and Weddle and Mabior Chol have both spent time in the ruck. There’s no guarantee to how the Hawks would line up at any given centre bounce.

Sam Mitchell has made a case to be the AFL’s coach of the year. Picture: Mark Stewart

3. BACK SIX SHIFT

The Hawks lost an important piece to their defensive puzzle on the eve of the season when James Blanck went down with a torn ACL. His sudden absence, and Hawthorn’s scramble to find a replacement, was obvious when they started the season poorly from a defensive standpoint. But in the second half of the season Hawthorn was the best defensive team in the competition, with the emergence of Jack Scrimshaw into one of the game’s best defenders. They’re undersized, but their athletic profile allows them to rebound effectively and kickstart attacking threats. With Sam Frost out for the season, Mitchell will have to adjust, and he doesn’t have many options. He could have gone with Ethan Phillips but instead opted for VFL form and Jai Serong. Changkuoth Jiath was not picked but isn’t exactly a like for like, while Will Day and Cam Mackenzie will miss the semi-final through injury.

4. UNCONVENTIONAL FORWARDS

If you lined up and ranked every team’s key forwards at the start of the season, the pairing of Mabior Chol and Calsher Dear would be arguably last. But the unconventional pair works in Hawthorn’s buzzing forward line, purely for their chase when the ball hits the deck. Chol and Dear effectively turn into small forwards, providing chase down pressure and keeping the ball locked into their forward line.

Calsher Dear has been an integral part of the Hawks’ forward structure despite being a 19-year-old key forward. Picture: Michael Klein

5. LLOYD MEEK

A slight tweak in ruck rules during the off-season has created a monster in Lloyd Meek. After spending much of his career as a back up ruck, Meek broke into Hawthorn’s senior side and has become one of the game’s elite big men. He dominated Tim English in the elimination final, and has a date with Jordon Sweet on Friday.

The Hawks are chasing history. Picture: Michael Willson

6. CHASING HISTORY

In the most even season in history, it makes sense that a team from outside the top four can win it. It’s been eight years since the Western Bulldogs of 2016 won from seventh, now the Hawks can do the same. Hawthorn was a Darcy Byrne-Jones kick away from finishing second on the ladder, they aren’t making up the numbers in seventh. It’s a journey not commonly travelled, but history has shown it’s possible.

Originally published as AFL finals: Why Hawthorn and its ‘Hokball’ can win the premiership in 2024