THE 2022 VFL Women’s season is almost here, so it is time to take a look at each of the competing teams and see where they sit as another season approaches. Today, Rookie Me Central takes a look at Hawthorn, who finished in ninth in 2021.

Hawthorn’s 2021 season did not get off to an ideal start, comfortably beaten by the Dogs. The Hawks did get things back on track the following week though, after they comfortably beat the Darebin Falcons.

They then went on a pretty long losing streak, losing the next five to Essendon (x2) Collingwood, Carlton and Casey before getting things back on track with a 16 point win over Williamstown.

The Hawks then lost to the Saints before thrashing the Falcons the following week to the tune of 62 points.

In the final month of their season, they could not string two consecutive wins together. They lost to North, before beating Williamstown. They then lost to the Cats before ending the season on a huge high by beating Port Melbourne.

The Hawks finished ninth on the VFLW ladder with a tally of five wins for the year, which was two wins out of the top six and one win behind eighth placed Carlton.

Despite the less than ideal season, the Hawks still had three girls drafted. Ashanti Bush was drafted by Gold Coast, Keeley Sherar was taken by Carlton, while Eloise Chaston was taken by the Pies.

The Hawks now have a new coach at the helm.

Cherie O’Neill takes over from former coach Bec Goddard, who is now preparing to become the inaugural coach of the Hawks’ AFLW side when they enter the competition next season.

They also have a new captain at the helm, with Tamara Luke taking over from former captain Meg Hutchins, who retired at the end of the 2021 season.

O’Neill said she has loved the roll thus far.

“Really loving it, yeah loving the environment. Great group of girls, professional club, very supportive,” she said.

O’Neill said that preseason had been going well, and that in particular the leaders at the club had been standing out on the track.

“Standout wise it’s been pretty solid across the board, but a few of our leaders, Tam’s (Tamara Luke) been good, Nic Garner’s been good,” she said. “A few of the ex-AFLW girls have stood up and really dragged the rest of the group with them, so that’s really good.”

The Hawks have lost a lot of experience since the end of the 2021 season with the retirement of veteran and women’s football legend Hutchins. However, in her place there are a number of new faces at the club, including Tegan Williams.

This year will be a different kind of season for the Hawks, with the clubs’ entrance into the AFLW just around the corner. Despite this, O’Neill said that doesn’t change things for the VFLW side.

“It doesn’t change anything for us ultimately, like VFLW’s our focus at the moment,” she said.

She was also very measured in her response to what the ultimate season goal.

“Premiership, finals… premiership would be nice but ultimately I suppose seeing some of these girls step up into AFLW would be great,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill was happy with how their practice matches went in the past couple of weeks.

“We had a couple of practice matches, which were both really good,” she said. “Great opposition, we had Essendon which was really good, and then Port Melbourne, so just a good chance to get your structures in place and see a few girls and help make selections for Round 1.”

The Hawks will need to be as up there as they were in the practice matches once Round 1 hits, when they take on North Melbourne.