Jaeger O’Meara impressed in Hawthorn’s intra-club but James Frawley injured his hamstring
JAEGER O’Meara was the standout in Hawthorn’s intra-club hitout on Friday night, collecting 33 disposals in a dominant four-quarter performance. Who else played well? Get a full wrap.
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HAWTHORN midfielder Jaeger O’Meara was the standout in the Hawks’ first competitive hitout of 2018 at Waverley Park on Friday night.
The injury-prone former Sun got through the intra-club hitout unscathed and collected 33 disposals, had six clearances, took seven marks and kicked a goal.
O’Meara, who had another injury-interrupted season last year, played in all four quarters of the match and showed his class.
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The Hawks played three 25-minute quarters and one 20-minute term to finish the match.
Jack Gunston was also among those to impress, playing in his usual forward role while also working up the ground and gathered 23 disposals, nine inside 50s and took seven marks, while James Sicily controlled the halfbackline with 12 marks and 27 disposals.
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It was a promising sign for O’Meara, who crossed from Gold Coast to Hawthorn at the end of the 2016 season.
He did not require any strapping on his troublesome knees.
“It was good. It was obviously pretty hot but good to get the fans out here and showcase what we’ve been doing all preseason.,” O’Meara said.
“I was huffing and puffing early, I actually felt a bit heavy in the first quarter but the legs got going and then I ran the game out.
“It was a good blowout.”
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O’Meara managed only six matches in his first season in brown and gold and averaged 21 disposals.
His 2018 season is off to the best possible start but don’t expect to see the 24-year-old feature in Hawthorn’s opening AFLX fixtures against Essendon and St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on February 16.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure, I’m not sure if they’ll play me in the AFLX, probably try and stick to the real stuff for me,” O’Meara told the club’s website.
“Obviously I haven’t played too much of the real stuff over the last few years, so I’d rather play in that than AFLX.
“I think it’s a really good concept but not for me at this stage.”
Hawthorn football boss Graeme Wright said O’Meara was one of the standouts.
“I thought everyone had a genuine go,” Wright said.
“Jaeger was very good, as were James Sicily and Tom Mitchell, and Ben Stratton was outstanding as a defender.
“Some of our young players also showed some positive signs, with Ollie Hanrahan, Kieran Lovell, James Worpel and CJ (Changkuoth Jiath) all putting in a solid effort.”
Defender James Frawley, who played only eight games last year due to ”turf toe”, suffered a hamstring injury during the match.
“We ended up with one injury for the night, James Frawley had a minor issue with his hamstring so that was a little disappointing, but outside of that the rest of the boys got through it quite well,” Wright said.
Cyril Rioli and Grant Birchall did not feature in Friday night’s hitout.
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