By Marc McGowan
Luke Breust played 29 minutes’ game time last weekend, serving as Hawthorn’s starting substitute for the eighth time this season.
The 296-gamer – the most prolific player to ever come out of the rookie draft – finished with two goals and three score involvements from four disposals, as the Hawks thumped Carlton to take a giant step towards making finals for the first time in six years.
Luke Breust.Credit: Justin McManus
In other words, it was a typical Breust game in 2024, as in a good time but not a long time, whereas it was wildly atypical across a 546-goal, triple-premiership-winning career that should have him in Australian Football Hall of Fame contention.
GWS tried to lure the champion small forward back to NSW only three years ago, while he made the extended All-Australian squad last season after another 40-plus-goal campaign.
But Breust, who is three months off turning 34, knew this was going to be a different year for him as far back as the pre-season.
The groin issue that has plagued him, which has not been detailed in depth until now, is not a new problem – but there are complexities that forced Breust to reevaluate his football lot. He admits now he did “too much” across summer and did not “pay the respect” to his body that he should have.
“It’s been a frustrating year, to be honest. It’s probably the first time in my career that my body started to let me down,” Breust said.
“The funny thing with the groin [problem] is I actually had it before I debuted [in 2011]. I had osteitis pubis, so it’s something I’ve had my whole career. I’ve always been able to manage the adductors, but the difference with this one is it’s gone up to the top of my pubic bone.
“As soon as it starts to go up there, all of a sudden, your abs and hip flexors and everything start to come into it, and I just had no strength.
“Kicking is another big one. I pride myself on being accurate in front of goal, but I do a lot of visualisation [instead] now because I can’t do the reps in front of goal. I’ve had to find ways of doing it a little bit differently.”
Breust battled through Hawthorn’s first three matches but soon realised he had “no power”, so he and high-performance manager Peter Burge, who noted his deteriorating strength in testing, decided he needed to take a break. Breust sat out the next five games, then was the sub for his first six matches back.
This has undoubtedly been his most challenging season, including limited training between games.
Breust is restricted mostly to straight-line running and pool work in the first session of the week, while Pilates is a significant part of his regime in the ongoing process to strengthen his groin. There is also a lot of band and stability work, as well as adductor ring exercises.
He often selects certain drills to take part in and tries to perform well in those while sitting out others.
Attacking bent: Hawthorn great Luke Breust.Credit: Getty Images
“It’s been a real battle to try to, one, get on the park and, two, figure out how to train during the week,” Breust said.
“It was like, ‘What can I do to best perform, and play a role for this side?’ It’s been frustrating, but at the same time, I’ve embraced the role. I know I’m not going to kick 40-odd goals or whatever it is, but it’s about what I can do for this group, and still have an impact.”
The dramatic role change is what has hit Breust hardest.
Only Eddie Betts (640 goals) and Stephen Milne (574) have kicked more goals among specialist small forwards, with Breust kicking 50 or more in a season three times and at least 40 on five other occasions.
The fact someone of his football stature is now routinely riding the bench for the first three quarters of matches is a bitter pill to swallow, particularly because his goalkicking brilliance and general ability remain.
“You’ve got to shift the goalposts a bit. I’m a big goal-setter, but that’s probably what changes,” he said.
“It’s not about me as an individual any more, and I know I’m in the back end of my career, so it’s just a change in mindset. I’ve done a heap with the sports psych on it as well.
“I feel like the athlete in you is so competitive, and as much as I want to do well myself – and fortunately, I’ve had a great career, and some amazing years here and there – you have to put that in the background.
Jack Ginnivan and Luke Breust.Credit: Getty Images
“You need to put your ego on hook a little bit, and go, ‘No, this is the role I need to play for this group’, but it is hard, and I feel like it’s taken me half the year, or even three-quarters of the year, to get into a mindset about that and embrace it.”
Breust’s strong cameos have not surprised Burge, who considers the star Hawk as “the ultimate professional”.
“There were moments where you could tell he was pretty flat, but he did very well to not express it in front of the group,” Burge said.
“There was always optimism that we would get him right, and he’s got tremendous trust and faith in the medical team, in [head physiotherapist] Andrew Lambart, in particular [but] I think at times he did find it a bit of a battle.
“I’m not amazed by what he can produce because he’s a very good player, but what inspires you, and others, is his dedication and professionalism, and how he wants to be as good as he can be.”
Breust’s management and the Hawks have started negotiations about him playing next season. He would like to continue into 2025, if possible, with Hawthorn appearing to be on the verge of more success.
“In my mind, the only reason I haven’t been able to play really good footy this year is my body, so my mind’s in a really good spot,” he said.
“I feel like I’ve always been able to get the best out of myself, so until the day I feel like I’m past it, and it’s body, mind, and these young guys keep running rings around me, then I am going to try and keep going. I want to be part of this group as well – it’s a pretty special group.”
The Hawks’ rapid rise under Sam Mitchell has taken even Breust by surprise.
“It’s so hard to put your finger on it. I remember at the bye; I went home for a few days, and people were like, ‘What’s changed?’ and I was like, ‘Not much has changed, to be honest’,” he said.
“We’ve still got the same game plan, it’s the same set of blokes – it’s not like we’ve been able to inject guys who were coming off injuries – and belief, confidence and playing for each other. I think that’s the recipe.”