AFL 2024: Lloyd Meek’s surprise rise to become Hawthorn’s main man

It took seven years and two clubs for Lloyd Meek to finally break through. Even his belief wavered at times along the way. But now the Hawks tall is firmly among the top tap rucks in the game.

There were small moments where Lloyd Meek wondered whether he would get a chance to be the man.

Like most rucks, the 203cm tall had to bide his time before becoming one of the league’s biggest improvers on a team that has improved more than anyone ever expected.

The Hawthorn giant is now locked in as the No.1 man, but as he put is simply: “it’s been a fair journey”.

Hailing from junior club SMW Rovers, out in Mininera, west of Ballarat, Meek was drafted 69th in the 2017 draft and told to wait.

Lloyd Meek duels with Marc Pittonet. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

He didn’t play a single game in his first three seasons for Fremantle and featured 15 times from 2021-22 before the writing was put in sharpie on the wall as Sean Darcy was about to be joined by Luke Jackson in the ruck.

He played 16 games in his first year at Hawthorn last season but often was splitting ruck duties with Ned Reeves and ended the year behind Reeves in the pecking order.

Leading into round 4 this year he was still a second fiddle, until he gobbled up 42 hit-outs against Geelong and he has been the first-picked ruck since.

This year, only Adelaide’s Reilly O’Brien (12.5) averages more than Meek’s 10.5 hitouts to advantage.

And Meek’s 35.9 hitouts per game sits behind only O’Brien (43.1) and Sun Jarrod Witts (37.6).

Meek said he had held on to his confidence that he could be the man through that seven-year journey, even if there were moments in which he wavered.

“I think you sort of have to have that inner belief,” he said.

Meek in the earlier days with Fremantle. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos

“If you don’t, you are going to get chewed up and spat out pretty quickly. There are definitely moments of doubt, don’t get me wrong. There were moments where I was nowhere near the level and knew that and knew I had to get better.

“I feel like I am a product of coming in with an open mind and a good work ethic and letting people shape me into the footballer I am becoming.

“I won’t rest, I will keep going until I get better and better and better and hopefully I don’t get too old in the mean time.”

Lloyd Meek and Reilly O’Brien dominate the hitouts. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

Age isn’t a worry yet for the 26-year-old, but after seven years in the system he has finally found some security on field.

Meek is contracted for next season but will no doubt search for more security off the field given he could tie up one big contract in his career.

“I am obviously loving my time here. That is all I can say,” he said.

“I haven’t really started anything (contract wise) yet. Hopefully there will be something at some point. I have another 12 months and we have another two pretty important months to take care of.”

Meek celebrates a goal for the Hawks. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

It’s no wonder Meek is loving being a part of a midfield that has turned a 0-5 start into a likely finals berth, as he grows alongside a developing engine room featuring Will Day, Jai Newcombe, Massimo D’Ambrosio, Connor Nash and James Worpel.

“The mids we have in there I love them to death and I love playing with them,” Meek said.

“This group is great to be a part of. It has been really good fun and it is hard work and I feel like I have been working towards this my whole career so it is really nice to be able to put some consistency together but the job is not done yet.”

The feeling is mutual for the big fella from those beneath his feet.

“Meeky has been amazing this year he is a super workhorse and it is good to see him getting the rewards for his efforts this year,” Newcombe told SEN this week.

“Him being a presence whether its in the ruck or around the ground, he is a big man so when he is having a big presence it is uplifting for us. He is someone that is very vocal out on the field and easy to connect with.

“His follow up work this year has been outstanding and he has been a great asset.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Lloyd Meek’s surprise rise to become Hawthorn’s main man