Hawthorn forward Connor Macdonald on building the next premiership side and the Hawks’ ‘rascal pack’

Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson, Connor Macdonald – is the next rat pack forming at Hawthorn? Macdonald opens up on just what’s really going on at the club – and what the future might hold.

There is a group of tight-knit young Hawks growing before our eyes that forward Connor Macdonald has declared will win Hawthorn’s next premiership.

Just don’t call them a rascal pack.

When future captain Will Day had an aggressive celebration with goalsneak Jack Ginnivan during a win over Adelaide in round 12, coach Sam Mitchell affectionately dubbed some of his young chargers a “rascal pack”.

Connor Macdonald celebrates a goal with Changkuoth Jiath and Jack Ginnivan, members of Sam Mitchell’s ‘rascal pack’. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos

Echoing Mick Malthouse’s famous ‘rat pack’ – that featured Dane Swan, Ben Johnson, Heath Shaw and Dale Thomas in the 2010 Collingwood flag team – the Hawthorn group has delivered on field in the last ten weeks, helping the Hawks from a 0-5 start to be within a game of the top eight.

But rat-tailed goalkicker Macdonald, who is smack-bang in the middle of the ebullient group, shut down the rascal talk.

“I wouldn’t call it a rascal pack at all,” he said.

“There are a lot of us young guys who are very close and that just proves the direction we are heading. We are strong and connected and have a lot of love for each other.

“There is no rascal pack, there are just a lot of us in the group who like to hang out and enjoy going out there and having fun.”

Even if the likes of Macdonald, Ginnivan, Day, Changkuoth Jiath, Nick Watson and others don’t adhere to their new pack name, they play with a pack mentality.

Those within Hawthorn marvel at the closeness of Mitchell’s group, from the youngsters to the veterans.

And Macdonald thinks that will be part of the club’s build to success, much like the chemistry Hawks greats like Mitchell, Jordan Lewis, Brad Sewell and Luke Hodge started building in the midfield 20 years ago.

The Hawks at training on Friday. Picture: Jason Edwards

“You look at all the great premiership teams and they look like they know what to do before their teammates even have the ball,” Macdonald said.

“Spending a lot of quality time with the boys that you are playing with can ultimately help that. I think when you have got that tight-knit group, you are almost knowing the future before your teammates even have the ball, so I think spending a lot of time together away from football can really build that trust and that chemistry.”

Beyond the chemistry at Hawthorn right now is sparkling, voluminous talent.

Macdonald, who has bagged at least a goal in each of his last five matches, has no question about the direction that talent is headed.

“I think we’ve got a big core that is going to play in Hawthorn’s next premiership,” he said.

“We are always working towards getting to the top of the ladder and ultimately winning a premiership like every other team is doing.”

Such confidence and positive talk looked miles off when the club slipped to 0-5 at the start of the season.

But the hungry young Hawks refused to suffer through another wasted year and looked each other in the eye to turn the tide.

The club has won eight of its 10 matches since and a victory on the road in Geelong on Saturday could have the Hawks in the eight.

Connor Macdonald is one of the better goal celebrators in the league. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Macdonald with Josh Weddle in round 14. Picture: Michael Klein

“Obviously we didn’t start the season the way we wanted to and we really changed things after that Gold Coast game (in round 5),” Macdonald said.

“We had really honest conversations with everyone in the football club, not only players but staff and coaches, and we really got together and re-evaluated what we want to do and how we want to fix things. We put in some plans and ultimately that has got us in favour and allowed us to win these games and turn the season around.

“I wouldn’t say we changed anything majorly, but we just had honest conversations and put in clear approaches to change things.

“I think that reflects our head coach in Sam Mitchell and when you have got the older guys like Jack Gunston and Luke Breust, they have all experienced premiership success and they personally know that feeling of playing in massive games, winning finals and ultimately winning grand finals. They are really strong on wanting us younger guys and this group at Hawthorn now to achieve that.”

Originally published as Hawthorn forward Connor Macdonald on building the next premiership side and the Hawks’ ‘rascal pack’