WITH the 2021 trade period done and dusted, it is now time for clubs and fans alike to turn their attention to the draft. Between now and draft day (November 24/25), clubs have had the opportunity to exchange picks with the final order formed just over a week out. While the chaos settles, Rookie Me Central takes a look at how each club may approach the upcoming intake with the hand they formed at the close of trade period.

Next under the microscope is Hawthorn, who boast another high first round pick and a couple of handy second-rounders which will continue to aid the clubs’ regeneration under new coach Sam Mitchell.

CURRENT PICKS: 5, 21, 24, 59, 65, 81

2022 PICKS: HAW Round 1, HAW Round 2, FRE Round 3, GCS Round 4

ACADEMY/FATHER-SON COMBINE INVITEES:

Nil.

LIST NEEDS:

+ Midfield class
+ Small forward depth
+ Key forward depth

FIRST PICK OPTIONS:
(Pick 5)

While a top five pick on paper, Hawthorn’s first selection will slide down to number seven in the order after bids for father-son candidates, Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy arrive. Nonetheless, the Hawks have a shot at an elite talent for the second year running, and can take full advantage of a draft lauded for its midfield depth.

While arguably an optimum pick given his size and athleticism compared to Hawthorn’s current on-ball group, Finn Callaghan is very unlikely to still be on the board for the Hawks to snap up. Should midfielders still be on the agenda, two Victorians – Ben Hobbs and Josh Ward – will be at the top of the list, and right in Hawthorn’s hitting zone.

While both are reliably hard workers with great levels of consistency, they offer differing styles. The former is an aggressive inside ball winner who cracks in going both ways and brings plenty of power to the contest, while the latter is a clean and classy ball user who also just so happens to be a Hawthorn fan.

Staying on path with the midfield options, and a couple of West Australians may also come into consideration. Matthew Johnson would be a prime candidate with Fremantle lurking at the very next pick, and he brings key points of difference in height and class that Hawthorn will be after. His Subiaco teammate Neil Erasmus, is another tall ball winner, but more of a workhorse who can also roll forward.

Should the Hawks prefer to bolster their engine room in the second round, a few key position players may be of temptation. Mac Andrew, a raw and athletic ruck-forward is the main link and has plenty of developable upside. Jye Amiss might be the deadeye key forward to take over from Jack Gunston, while Josh Gibcus could slide past GWS and Gold Coast, but arguably plays too similarly to 2020 draftee, Denver Grainger-Barras.

Of course, Hawks fans will also want the club to take a close look at Josh Rachele should the Giants, Suns and Adelaide Crows overlook him. The mercurial small forward is a goals-first type of player who wins games off his own boot, with scope to inject pace into the midfield over time.

REMAINING CROP:

There are plenty of ways Hawthorn could go within the second round and latter stages of the draft, with even more midfield depth on offer and some versatile around-the-square options to consider. Given pure mids are available early on, the Hawks could look for more hybrid types, or tall and small forward specialists on night two, to come away with a haul of five fresh faces.

Assuming on likelihood a midfielder comes in with pick five, Hawthorn could very easily bolster its small forward stocks. Sam Butler are a couple of quick, clean and smart prospects with good footballing pedigree and scope to develop their midfield craft. One, if not both should be available at picks 21 and 24.

Adding to that mix, slick finisher Judson Clarke suits the modern game well as a surging mid-forward, while small midfielder Zac Taylor is worth a look in this range for his crafty kicking skills going inside 50. Speaking of, Tyler Sonsie would be hard to pass up if he slid to pick 21, especially having shown his class for the Hawks’ twos in 2021.

Should Hawthorn look for a bit of dynamism further afield, the likes of Campbell Chesser and Tom Brown will appeal. Both are athletic, dashing types who can play off half-back or the wing, with Chesser’s size, cleanliness and explosiveness also boding well for a future on the inside.

Along slightly different lines, the likes of Blake Howes and Kai Lohmann have plenty of upside for Hawthorn to consider in round two, with Howes potentially a Gunston-type forward or rangy wingman, while Lohmann has that x-factor going forward but needs to harness his finishing ability.

Even further down the order, the Hawks would do well to dip into the Eastern talent pool and perhaps prize a mid-forward like Jake Soligo, a mid-defender in Tyreece Leiu, or a terrific ball user like Corey Preston. If not, Arthur Jones is a big improver out of Western Australia and there may be some readymade, mature-age talls and midfielders to take on late.

KEY QUESTIONS:

> Will Hawthorn target a midfielder with pick five regardless of who is available?
> Will Hawthorn look to bolster its key position stocks at all?
> Could Hawthorn package its two second-rounders to gain another round one pick?