Eight reasons to be excited about Hawthorn in 2020
A Brownlow Medallist returns, a bargain recruit joins the attack and there’s a heap of experience. But perhaps the man in the coaching box is the biggest reason why Hawks fan should be excited this year.
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Fancy adding a Brownlow Medallist, a power forward and a father-son gun to your 2019 team?
That’s exactly what the Hawks have done, except the winner of the Charlie spent all of last season sidelined.
It’s unusual to see Hawthorn miss the finals, and considering Alastair Clarkson’s track record, you would be foolish to count them out.
Here are eight reasons why Hawks supporters can get excited for season 2020.
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1. SO CLOSE
The Hawks weren’t exactly far off featuring in finals last season. They finished ninth on the ladder, just one game adrift of eight-placed Essendon. It was just the second time in 10 years the Hawks had missed out on September action and they are determined to get back there in 2020. With a strong mix of experienced heads and talented youth — led by master coach Alastair Clarkson — the side looks well placed to return to the top-eight. Internally, the feeling at Waverley Park is that a lot of upside across a lot of different areas.
2. MITCHELL RETURN
The Hawks boast arguably the biggest virtual recruit in the competition in 2020 — midfielder Tom Mitchell. The 2018 Brownlow Medal winner missed the entire 2019 season after suffering a horrific broken leg at training last January. While there are not yet any guarantees that he will be ready for Round 1, that is the goal as Mitchell’s training program gradually builds. The 26-year-old broke the record for the most disposals in a season in 2018 with 848 at an average of 35.3. He also led the league for clearances that season, averaging eight a game. If Mitchell can return to fitness and somewhere near the lofty bar he set himself in 2018, Hawthorn will be thrilled.
3. THE GENERAL
He was the No. 1 draft pick in 2011 and Jonathon ‘The General’ Patton is set to be the No. 1 man in the Hawthorn forward line next season. Patton was the Hawks’ big recruit during the trade period after eight seasons with Greater Western Sydney and will slot straight in to centre-half forward. The 26-year-old has not played a game since Round 15, 2018 due to back-to-back anterior cruciate ligament tears. However, he kicked 38 goals in 2016 and 45 goals in 2017 as he emerged as one of the star key forwards in the competition. Patton arrived at Hawthorn in good shape after being in full training at the Giants for the last month of last season. The Hawks are confident Patton’s best football is still ahead of him.
4. MORE WINGARD
Former Port Adelaide forward Chad Wingard’s start to life at Hawthorn last season didn’t exactly go to script. He missed the opening two rounds with a calf injury and went on to be sidelined for a further six games mid-season due to injury. But Wingard’s last seven games of the year certainly excited the Hawks and coach Alastair Clarkson, giving a glimpse of what the 26-year-old is capable of achieving in 2020. Wingard averaged 23.3 disposals, 6.1 inside-50s, 4.4 clearances, 7.0 score involvements and 87 SuperCoach ranking points across those final seven games playing both through the midfield and as a small forward. With a full pre-season under his belt, the Hawks think Wingard is more than capable of being an All-Australian for the third time in 2020.
5. BRILLIANT BURGOYNE
At age 37, Shaun Burgoyne is the oldest player on an AFL list next season. But the man they call ‘Silk’ still has his touch. Burgoyne played 18 games last season, averaging 16.2 disposals and 77 SuperCoach ranking points primarily playing across halfback. What makes 2020 exciting for Hawks fans is that he is poised to further lift his name in the record books. Currently sitting seventh on the all-time games played list with 376 outings under his belt, Burgoyne needs just eight more games to overtake St Kilda legend Robert Harvey and climb into the top-five on that list. If he were to play every home-and-away game and at least two finals, Burgoyne would become just the fifth player in history to reach 400 games. That would be a feat worth celebrating.
6. FAMILY TIES
The Hawks snagged two top-30 picks in November’s national draft, both of whom have family connections to the club. Will Day was taken at pick 13 and is the grandson of Robert Day, who played 38 games for Hawthorn including the 1971 premiership. Finn Maginness was taken at pick 29 and is the son of two-time Hawks premiership player Scott Maginness. As two highly-touted juniors, both could well feature at senior level at some stage next season. Day is an attacking halfback who is a strong kick on either side of his body while Maginness is consistent ball-winning midfielder who can also push forward.
7. EXPERIENCED LIST
While Shaun Burgoyne skews the figures a little, Hawthorn boasts both the oldest and most experienced playing list entering 2020. The Hawks will start next season with an average list age of 24.9 years, with those players having lined up in an average of 80.4 games each. That suggests Alastair Clarkson’s side should be ready to challenge for a top-eight spot once again. Youth and inexperience will be no excuse.
8. ROUGHEAD REPLACEMENT
Four-time premiership hero Jarryd Roughead has hung up the boots, but the Hawks hold high hopes that 198cm key forward Mitchell Lewis will soon fill his sizeable shoes. A Rising Star nominee last season, Lewis has played just 14 senior games in three years. However, he showed plenty of promise last season to average 11.5 disposals, 4.7 marks, 5.2 score involvements and kick 20 goals from 12 matches. The Hawks will be hoping the 21-year-old can take further strides forward in 2020 and have handed him Roughead’s old No. 2 jumper in a show of faith. Selected at pick 76 in the 2016 national draft, Lewis is shaping as a genuine steal.
CHAMPION DATA SAYS
The Hawks are the third oldest and second most experienced team heading into 2020. They have 12 players on their list with at least 150 or more games of experience – the equal most of any side in the competition alongside Geelong.
HOW YOUR CLUB IS TRACKING
2015: 3rd, 16W, 6L, PREMIER
2016: 3rd, 17W, 5L, SF
2017: 12th, 10W, 1D, 11L
2018: 4th, 15W, 7L, SF
2019: 9th, 11W, 11L
TAB ODDS
Premiership: $15
Top 8: $1.75
Top 4: $3.75