Rookie Hawks Josh Ward, Connor MacDonald and Ned Long push for round 1 selection
Hawthorn is preparing to start the Sam Mitchell era and three fresh draftees are jockeying to be in the new coach’s round 1 team.
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Hawthorn assistant coach Adrian Hickmott has identified three first-year Hawks as potential round 1 bolters.
Top-10 draft pick Josh Ward, Connor MacDonald and rookie-listed Ned Long have all impressed Hickmott in what is also his first pre-season at Waverley Park.
They have another audition in Saturday’s Community Series clash with Richmond in Devonport, in what is a tribute match for the six Hillcrest Primary School children who died in a tragic jumping castle accident last year.
Hawthorn is entering the next stage of its list development under new coach Sam Mitchell, with experienced duo James Sicily and Jack Gunston returning from long-term injuries.
But the kids remain a major part of what the Hawks are doing.
“Throughout the midfield, Long, Ward and MacDonald come to mind straightaway as our first-year players, and (Jai) Newcombe’s always going hard as well,” Hickmott said.
“It’s going to be a good battle. They’ve been working against Jaeger (O’Meara), Tom Mitchell, (Conor) Nash and (Tom) Phillips throughout the midfield.
“The young guys have held up strong, so it’ll be interesting to see how that goes and we’ll see a bit more on the weekend.”
Sicily (knee) and Gunston (back) came through unscathed from last week’s practice match defeat to Collingwood and will be even more important in a youth-laden squad.
Hickmott was particularly glowing about how diligent Sicily was in his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament rupture sustained in August 2020.
“The way they’ve been training over pre-season has been fantastic,” Hickmott said.
“To have those guys come back into the side is exciting for the group themselves and the young players around them.
“Their leadership on the ground (against the Magpies) was extremely impressive.”
Hawthorn’s head of football, Rob McCartney, addressed the playing group on Friday morning about the AFL’s crackdown on umpire abuse, including showing some vision.
The reigning premier Demons conceded eight 50m penalties in their Community Series loss to Carlton on Thursday night, with umpire abuse and time wasting mostly to blame.
“I agree with all umpire decisions. It’s blooming hard work to umpire,” Hickmott said.
“I’ve actually umpired a couple of times out here and it’s hard to keep up with the game and see it in a split second, so we’re educating whatever decision is made, is made.
“Stand the mark really well and move onto the next thing.”
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