Ultimate player ratings: Glenn McFarlane and Jon Ralph rate every Hawthorn player
The Hawks have talent to burn as far as small forwards with all the tricks go, but will they all fit in the side? GLENN MCFARLANE and JON RALPH rate every Hawk.
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Have the Hawks got more small forwards with tricks than their AFL rivals? And how can they possibly fit them all into the one team?
It’s hard to argue against the first question, given the array of crafty, talented small to medium sized forwards who are pushing for spots, and Sam Mitchell clearly believes most of them can play in the same team.
It might just be the point of difference that Hawthorn needs to keep its upward trajectory after some painful past few seasons.
This will still be a development year for the Hawks, given its list demographic, and there will be some ups and downs. But they are coming, and the small forwards could play a key role.
Luke Breust will go down in Hawthorn history not just as a three-time premiership player, but as a 300-game player (he should reach that figure at the back end of the season) and most likely as the fifth player at the club to push beyond the 600-goal mark.
Criteria: Prediction of their 2024 performance based on their 2023 season, expected improvement and role in their side.
He is still playing at a consistently high level at 33, but just as important is imparting his wisdom and professionalism to a host of teammates looking for inspiration.
The Hawks are looking to squeeze in a raft of other small forwards to work in with talls Mitch Lewis, Jack Gunston and Mabior Chol.
There’s Dylan Moore, who has transformed his game and his leadership in recent seasons, Blake Hardwick has cast off his regular defensive role to take up the challenge of a move forward, and Connor Macdonald showed some good signs as a high half-forward but might even graduate to more midfield time in 2024.
The addition of Collingwood premiership cult hero Jack Ginnivan via a trade and securing the one of the best forwards in the draft in Nick Watson provides an intoxicating mix that is going to be fascinating to watch for fans as well as a deft balancing act for the coaching group.
Ginnivan is no one-trick pony. He did kick 40 goals for the Magpies in 2022, even if last year proved a bit more challenging at times before it ended up with a premiership medal.
But he still needs to add more layers to his game, particularly defensively, and in following Breust’s lead, he could have the best teacher right by his side.
Watson could be anything. There it is, we said it.
We cannot wait to see what the kid called ‘The Wizard’ can bring to Hawthorn’s attack and there might end up being a few nervous clubs wondering why they didn’t pick him before the Hawks took him at five.
Could he even have more tricks than Ginnivan? Some recruiters reckon he has. Regardless, it’s going to be fun finding out.
It won’t be easy fitting them all in, but the spread of smalls – and their respective bag of tricks – will be a serious threat to opposition teams at stages of this season.
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Originally published as Ultimate player ratings: Glenn McFarlane and Jon Ralph rate every Hawthorn player
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