AFL Finals 2024: Why Luke Breust thought game 300 was ‘impossible’
There was a time where Luke Breust was “struggling to get a game for Box Hill twos”. JON RALPH finds out how he went from a VFL battler to a Hawks premiership legend.
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No left foot.
Not a single possession in his first official pre-season hitout.
Three one-year deals before he gained contract security as a 70kg rookie from New South Wales.
For Hawthorn’s Luke Breust making the grade as an AFL 300-gamer seems just as improbable as the Hawks 2024 run that has allowed him to play the 19 games he needed this year to hit that magical milestone.
This year star small forward Breust was shut down with a debilitating groin issue before the Hawks’ run kickstarted from 0-5, with the 33-year-old admitting it felt an “impossible” dream given the horrible start to the season.
But as he reflected on that milestone since being recruited from the NSW town of Temora with pick 47 in the 2009 rookie draft, his rocky start to his career was just as inauspicious.
“I was struggling to get a game for the Box Hill twos. I remember I had donuts (zero touches) in my first proper NAB Cup game. I was playing twos twos (VFL reserves) for five or six games and played nearly 50-odd games in the VFL and finally got a chance and then it’s been an amazing ride.
“I debuted in 2011, and then from 2012 played in four grand finals in a row. Success came early for me and then you have a few lean years.”
Breust was nearly traded to GWS in 2021 as the Hawks slid down the other side from the premiership mountain and while he was fiercely loyal he also didn’t believe the Giants list had much upside.
He was wrong about that assessment but footy’s swings and roundabouts have still presented him with a chance to win a fourth premiership this year.
Breust and premiership teammate Jack Gunston have one-year deals for 2025 but can sniff something special with this youth-led resurgence.
“If you had told me about round 6 or 7 I would play 300 this year I would probably have laughed at you,” Breust said.
“It was a bit of a hiccup early (with the groin issues) and then finals seemed nearly impossible so to be playing the second week is so special.
“Early in the year it wasn’t on the radar. In the lead-up to my 250th game four or five weeks out, people started booking flights and accommodation. I didn’t want to get injured. This time I haven’t had that anxiety or pressure leading into the game. I have just played my role for the side, which has been good.”
Vintage Luke Breust 🙌#AFLSaintsHawks | #AFLDeadlypic.twitter.com/p1hL6I9D25
— AFL (@AFL) May 27, 2023
The classic crumb and snap from Luke Breust ✅ #AFLDeesHawkspic.twitter.com/NGFb5s1qb4
— AFL (@AFL) August 20, 2023
After 14 seasons at the top level, this will be the 18th time Breust plays at Adelaide Oval.
And his advice to his young charges is to stare into the eye of the beast instead of shy away from the intimidating atmosphere of an away clash against Port Adelaide.
“It is a challenge, we have had some amazing clashes against Port Adelaide. They would be disappointed with their performance last week. We will have to be on in that first quarter to make sure we stop their game. It’s an amazing environment to play in. The ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ theme song, we told our guys last time to embrace it and get your eyes up and soak it all in. It’s unlike most other venues.”
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Originally published as AFL Finals 2024: Why Luke Breust thought game 300 was ‘impossible’
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