‘An awesome rollercoaster’: Massimo D’Ambrosio talks leaving Essendon, All-Australian snub

Massimo D’Ambrosio models his game after Sydney’s Errol Gulden, but he never expected to be in the same conversation as the Swans star. The flying Hawk details his rise to Scott Gullan.

Being a clone of Errol Gulden has been the impetus for young Hawk Massimo D’Ambrosio’s incredible breakout season.

Ironically many thought he should have had his name read out opposite Gulden in last week’s All-Australian side where the selectors went away from two traditional wingers, instead throwing Collingwood’s superstar midfielder Nick Daicos into the spot.

For D’Ambrosio, the fact he was even in the same conversation as Gulden and Daicos around the team-of-the-year was overwhelming for the 21-year-old who is just 38 games into his career.

“It is a little bit of a different feeling,” he says. “I have never been a part of something like that before and to even be in the mix, and in the squad, from where I have come from … all I wanted to do was play as many games as I could this year.

“It is surreal to have my name around that conversation.”

D'Ambrosio has been a key feature for the Hawks. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The reason he was in that 44-man squad was recognition of the critical role he’s played in Hawthorn’s resurrection, averaging 20 disposals (77% disposal efficiency), 336 metres gained, 4.9 marks, 4.5 score involvements, 2.4 rebound 50s and 2.2 inside 50s.

D’Ambrosio puts it down to research, in particular watching hours and hours of Gulden, studying the Swans star’s running patterns and workrate which has elevated him to the premier wingman in the competition.

“I watch a lot of Errol Gulden, he’s someone who plays it really well so I watch a lot of his vision and then look at what I do myself in games,” he said.

“I’ve done hours and hours of vision, being able to have some clarity around my role and what the team needs from me. Understanding my role is something that has taken my game to a new level.”

Twelve months ago the All-Australian team was the furtherest thing from D’Ambrosio’s mind as he weighed up his football future.

He’d just finished his second season at Essendon, playing just eight games and as a consequence the Bombers were hedging their bets about the left-footer they’d rookie-listed midway through the 2022 season.

A one-year deal was on the table but Hawthorn had come knocking with a spot on the senior list and a two-year contract offer.

D’Ambrosio was torn. He had a sense of loyalty to the Bombers given they’d given him an AFL lifeline when no-one else had but there was something about Hawthorn’s sell which had him excited.

The trade went through just seconds before the deadline with the Hawks only having to give up draft pick No. 61 (which Essendon didn’t use) and a fourth-round selection in the 2024 draft.

D'Ambrosio left the Bombers after 2023. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“It has been an awesome rollercoaster,” he says. “I feel like at the time I wanted to be loyal but for my career I knew it was the best thing to do.

“I feel like I had a lot to give at the level, I still do, I’m still learning a lot and I want to keep getting better and building. I knew I could play at the level so to be offered to come here and get this opportunity, the club was awesome.”

He knows when he runs out on Friday night at the MCG in front of 90,000 for the elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, he has his coach Sam Mitchell to thank for making his dream become a reality.

“I do feel like one of the most underrated skills as a coach is to be able to build relationships, to build an environment where everyone can be themselves and not be judged but also be hard on each other and drive the standards,” D’Ambrosio said.

“He (Mitchell) has a big emphasis on that when we are on the footy field we drive each other to be better and when we are around each other off the field we are always connected.

“He has really driven that, he always puts on dinners with the playing group and just builds that connection.

“He is a very, very smart coach, he knows what he is doing and explains to every player in depth what you need to be doing to get better.

“I feel like that is such a good thing. Everyone wants to play for him, it’s awesome what he has been able to do to create a great environment for everyone to be themselves.”

Originally published as ‘An awesome rollercoaster’: Massimo D’Ambrosio talks leaving Essendon, All-Australian snub