AFL 2024: Massimo D’Ambrosio on move to Hawthorn and the club’s trade successes

After missing out on some targets, Hawthorn hit a home run in the trade market last year. Massimo D’Ambrosio opens up on how the Hawks’ moves have paid off.

The Hawks pulled off some trade bargains late last year.

Massimo D’Ambrosio always thought he could be this player, he just needed the chance to prove it.

One of several scrap-heap success stories filtered through Hawthorn’s remarkable turnaround, D’Ambrosio has turned himself into a quality winger after two years and 16 games at Essendon.

Snagged from the Bombers at the end of last year for pick 61 and a future fourth-rounder, D’Ambrosio has now played more games (17) in two-thirds of a season at the Hawks than he did at the Bombers.

And he has thrived playing further up the field, averaging 19.8 disposals with an elite 73.5 kicking efficiency.

Massimo D’Ambrosio is thriving at the Hawks. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

A mid-season draftee in 2022, the left-footer always thought he could be an impact player at the top level and is now showing it for a Hawthorn side suddenly charging towards finals.

“I had the belief that I could do that, I just had to be given the opportunity,” he said.

“Coming to Hawthorn, I have been pushed up onto the wing and I feel like I have found my spot in the team. I am loving my time here and hopefully we can keep winning.

“The biggest thing in footy is earning the trust of your teammate and I feel like I have done that. That’s what I pride myself on and hope I can keep doing from here.”

D’Ambrosio was brilliant with 29 disposals in his first game for the Hawks, against his old team in round 1, and eclipsed that effort with a 26 disposal, two goal performance in a dominant win over Collingwood last week.

In the sash back in 2022. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

He may have been lucky to get his first, when livewire Nick Watson centred a ball to him in the forward-50, against the goalsneak’s better instincts.

“As soon as I got it I was like ‘I am going for it (goals)’ because I had kicked two by then and I had a lot of confidence but there were too many people inside so I had to do the team thing,” Watson said.

“(My teammates) got around me even more for dishing it off.”

That selfless nature has allowed D’Ambrosio and the Hawks as a team to thrive this season, enjoying both their cheeky goal celebrations and the less shiny work, like pressure and tackles.

D’Ambrosio enjoys one of his two goals against the Pies. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

It has the Hawks knocking on the door of the top eight ahead of Sunday’s clash with Adelaide.

“I feel like after a couple of wins we started to believe in each other and the way we are playing and I feel like that belief is growing every week and we are getting that reward now,” D’Ambrosio said.

THE CUT-PRICE HAWKS HITS

Hawthorn was well into the market for the top-line players that moved last off-season, such as Ben McKay, Lachie Schultz and Esava Ratugolea.

But having missed out on those players, they have probably won the six trades they were involved in that included players around the fringes.

Jack Ginnivan is a clear success, with the Hawks handing over pick 33 and a 2024 round three choice for the electric forward and pick 39, while swapping 2024 second rounders and taking back the Magpies 2024 round-four pick.

Jack Ginnivan’s recruitment has been a slam dunk. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Given the teams are now neck-and-neck on the ladder, those pick swaps mean little and Hawthorn appears to have entered a decade-long relationship with footy’s favourite antagonist.

Trading in D’Ambrosio for two back-end picks appears a masterstroke right now.

The Hawks also brought back Jack Gunston from Brisbane for Brandon Ryan and a host of pick exchanges.

While Gunston hasn’t lit the world on fire on-field, the young Hawks rave about his ability to fast track their development as forwards and given Ryan has played just once, that is another tick.

Mabior Chol has become Hawthorn’s spearhead with Mitch Lewis missing, kicking 27 goals from 16 games.

Chol was secured with pick 62 from Gold Coast for the Brisbane 2024 second rounder that was in the Gunston deal, and if he can help guide his third club to finals that will have been a clear win.

Making way for Chol up forward, Hawthorn moved Jacob Koschitzke out to Richmond for pick 49.

The new Tiger has kicked eight goals in nine games this year and hasn’t had much impact.

The jury will remain out for the time being on Tyler Brockman at West Coast, given the talented forward hasn’t got going in his first year over there, after being swapped for picks 44 and 63.

Jack Gunston has come back to Hawthorn colours. Picture: Jack Foley/AFL Photos

On the whole it is a collection of singles that have added up to a home run for the Hawks, as they again eye big swings at the end of this season.

Much of the ability of the new faces to fit in at Waverley has come back to the work of head coach Sam Mitchell, who has found a way to let his players be their best.

Outside of the paycheck, Mitchell’s presence looms as likely the club’s best selling point when trying to land a big fish.

“To come into the club, I didn’t know what to expect and they have wrapped me up in two arms,” D’Ambrosio said.

“I have just enjoyed every single minute I have been at the club. I think Sam has been such a great help for me in bringing the best out of myself. He does that for everyone that is why he is such a great coach.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Massimo D’Ambrosio on move to Hawthorn and the club’s trade successes