LADDER FINISH:<\/strong> 16th (7-16, 80.2%) FIRST PICK:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Entering the draft at pick four, Hawthorn’s first selection hinges greatly on who North Melbourne snaps up after Harley Reid<\/a> makes the seemingly inevitable move to West Coast. The Roos hold picks two and three, likely to be pushed back after bidding on Suns Academy ace, Jed Walter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The options for Hawthorn look to be narrowed down to three or four names, dictated by whichever ones fall to them. Zane Duursma<\/a> is a player who the Hawks have shown great interest in, though North is firming to take the dynamic forward with one of their two picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Roos’ other selection will come down to either West Australian utility Daniel Curtin<\/a> or Tasmanian midfielder Colby McKercher<\/a>. Hawthorn could move for either player, with Curtin theoretically filling a key defensive void, but McKercher perhaps less favoured given Hawthorn’s recently drafted midfielders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If not Duursma, Curtin or McKercher, a name heavily linked with the Hawks is electric small forward Nick Watson<\/a>. He, along with Jack Ginnivan<\/strong> would add serious spark at ground level inside 50, and impressed during his time training with the club as part of his AFL Academy commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A couple of outsiders who would perhaps be a touch early at pick four are powerful marking forward Nate Caddy<\/a> and mobile key defender Connor O’Sullivan<\/a>. Again, the latter would provide ample depth in the tall back department, and the former is a long term attacking piece to support recruits Jack Gunston<\/strong> and Mabior Chol<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n REMAINING CROP:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Expected to make three selections at the draft, the remainder of Hawthorn’s intake shapes as being relatively straightforward. A bid for father-son prospect Will McCabe<\/a> looks like coming just within the first 15 picks, perhaps from Adelaide or North Melbourne.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is where the majority of Hawthorn’s late selections will be eliminated, though the club will hope to have enough points left for a possible late bid on another club-tied talent in Calsher Dear<\/a>. The son of Paul<\/em><\/strong> has rocketed into National Draft contention after a strong back-end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n McCabe, an extremely athletic 197cm defender, has long been in the frame as a top 20 talent. His impending arrival may alter whether Hawthorn selects Curtin with pick four, given they play similar positions. The best case scenario for Dear, whose top-age campaign was capped off by a Talent League premiership, is that he slides through to Hawthorn’s last pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Hawks have a Next Generation Academy member who has bolted up the order of late in Tew Jiath<\/a>. The brother of current Hawk, Changkuoth<\/strong> is a rangy rebound defender with enormous upside. He is unlikely to end up in brown and gold though, given Hawthorn will only have access after pick 40.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another bit of business Hawthorn will have to attend to is rookie listing Chad Wingard<\/strong> and Cooper Stephens<\/strong>, who were recently delisted. The former has reportedly courted interest from elsewhere, but will prefer to remain a Hawk as he gets back to full health in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n KEY QUESTIONS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2013 Which players will fall to Hawthorn’s pick four?
2023 PICKS:<\/strong> 4, 44, 47, 49, 62, 63, 83
FUTURE PICKS:<\/strong> HAW R1, COLL R2
CLUB-TIED PLAYERS:<\/strong> Will McCabe, Calsher Dear (both father-son), Tew Jiath (NGA)<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SD-Calsher-Dear-1024x683.jpg\")
\u2013 Where will bids come in for Hawthorn’s father-son pair?
\u2013 Will Hawthorn be able to safely rookie list Chad Wingard?<\/p>\n\n\n\n