HAWTHORN wasted no time rolling the dice in the 2024 AFLW Draft, preferring players with huge upside. The brown and gold went for predominantly taller players, though the underlying theme was elite athleticism, so the Hawks will have no problems providing speed on the ball in any third of the ground.

>> EVERY PICK: National Draft | Recap

DRAFT HAUL

National Draft:

15. Lavinia Cox
23. Daisy Flockart
28. Grace Baba
45. Elli Symonds
50. Rebecca Clottey

Basketballer Lavinia Cox was the first one picked out for the Hawks, being a draft bolter up the order following her State Draft Combine invite. She has represented Australia on the basketball court before, and was a Bendigo Spirit rookie, but will now don the brown and gold for the Hawks. She showed marked improvement throughout the year, so Hawthorn’s recruiting team will look to take her game to another level.

The trend of State Draft Combine invitees early continued at pick 23 when selecting Sandringham Dragons tall, Daisy Flockart. The natural inside midfielder has spent time forward, and in 2024, played a key role in defence for Vic Metro. That enabled her to show she can play across all three lines, and has the explosive speed and power required in the modern game. If she tidies up her kicking, then she can go to another level.

High-flying Grace Baba stood out at the National Draft Combine with her vertical leap attempts, and that is something to expect from the Eastern Ranges and Vic Metro defender. She clunked some huge intercept grabs, and though she is still developing some of her fundamentals such as her timing and remaining focused for four quarters, she catches the eye with her speed and willingness to take the game on.

The steal of the draft was Dandenong Stingrays’ tall Elli Symonds who was ranked in the teens for our Power Rankings. Her stress fracture injury would have cast doubt in the minds of some, but she stepped up when returning, and the Hawks have got a bargain on their hands at pick 45. She has remarkable speed for a tall, as well as power to boot, and once she build her endurance, could be an ultimate utility between ruck, forward or midfield.

Rounding out the Hawks’ five selections was Geelong Falcons’ tackling machine Rebecca Clottey. She has the pace and defensive pressure that all small forwards need, and though again developing some more of her fundamentals to round out her game, has that natural athleticism that underpins her profile. With the right development, she can provide a fierce defensive option inside 50 who can also hit the scoreboard.