With strong hands overhead, impeccable skills and electric speed – Will Hoskin-Elliott is starting to fulfil his potential as a number four pick.
The unassuming forward is enjoying a career-defining season, booting 27 goals and leading the clubs goal kicking halfway through his second year at Collingwood.
But back in late 2016, Hoskin-Elliott’s career looked to be stalling.
Hoskin-Elliott looked likely to join the long list of top draft picks discarded by the expansion clubs after being restricted to just two games for the year and unable to force his way into a highly talented GWS team.
The now 24-year-old initially fielded interest from almost every Victorian club with his pedigree as a junior and raw athletic ability.
But it was Collingwood who eventually managed to lure Hoskin-Elliott back to the club he supported as a junior, securing the services of the line breaking wingman for a future second-round pick in the 2017 draft.
Since that trade, Hoskin-Elliott has flourished – playing every one of a possible 34 games, establishing himself as a potent offensive weapon and providing Collingwood with some desperately-needed pace and skill.
The signature of Hoskin-Elliott’s game this year has been his ability to hit the scoreboard.
As of Round 13, he is the only player to goal in every round so far and has kicked ten straight in his two most recent matches.
Hoskin-Elliott has also taken his disposal to the next level in 2018, using his vision and class to hit targets inside 50 and act as the link between a youthful backline and unpredictable forward line.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
The forward is the equal leader at Collingwood this year for goal assists, tied on ten with Taylor Adams. His 182 disposals hit the target more than 74 per cent of the time, well above the team average of 54 per cent.
After Collingwood’s empathic 61-point victory over Fremantle, Buckley commented that Hoskin-Elliott’s improvement was symptomatic of the football clubs development as a whole.
“He’s still developing as a player,” he stated. “We have shower some pretty creative ball use in the last couple of years, changing angles and shifting the ball, but we’re going forward a bit more this year… and I think that helps a guy like Will.”
After bagging six goals in the victory over Fremantle, Hoskin-Elliott said a key focus at the club had been creating more avenues to goal and improving the way the football was delivered inside 50.
“The forwards are really working together, it was just my night, we had Jordy (Jordan De Goey), JT (Josh Thomas) and Stevie (Jayden Stephenson) all kick their bags, so it was just my turn.
“The connection between the mids and forwards is working really well this season, the skills coming inside 50 are way better this season than last and that’s helping”, Hoskin-Elliot said.
Hoskin-Elliott played 52 games for GWS before moving to Collingwood. He is out of contract at seasons end but looks almost certain to stay at the Holden Centre.
Fat Toad
Guest
I think that the issue that held Collingwood back over the last two (maybe even six) seasons has been the quality of entry into the 50m zone. Pressure applied across the centre and half back line led to Collingwood just 'bombing the ball in' resulting in a relatively low percentage of scores v entries. This probably effectively ended Cloke's career with the Pies. Better entries have allowed Mason Cox to exploit his natural skills and put defenders in one on one situations and be forced to make rushed decisions about who and how to defend. Any one who has played as a defender will attest that speed of entry is the greatest weapon against them. Hoskin-Elliot is a double edged weapon having raw speed across the ground combined with agility he demands a good defender. His marking requires a strong aerialist. Added to this, his accurate passes bring other players into the game and create one on one contests by forcing defenders to man up and not sag off. All the time, his ability to beat an opponent on the ground forces defenders to leave their man and slow entry into the forward line. Pretty easy to see why coaches would love to have one on him or are having so much trouble dealing with the danger he creates through opportunities for himself and others. If I was forced to opt for a strategy against him, I would opt for a player with absolute speed who could reduce his marking by running shoulder to shoulder and effecting his balance when setting for a mark. The problem is that there aren't many like that.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Love him to Andy and it helps that he is an unassuming humble bloke who is always first to congratulate the team and downplay his own input. He has been great for the Pies and enjoying his improvement every bit as much as Scharenberg, Cox and Aish (before he got injured). Phillips had a rare quiet day against Melbourne by his standards too, expect a huge Blues game from him this week.
andyincanberra
Guest
People talk about De Goey and Cox as the big improvers this year for the Pies, but I think that WHE gets lost in the conversation. He's marking the ball very high, has bulked up over the pre-season and is probably the best kick for goal in the team. Put simply, he does the basic things very, very well. As a Collingwood supporter, I always feel that I can breathe a little easier when WHE is kicking for goal. He's my favourite player in the team right now.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Great article Joseph on a fella who flies under the radar a bit and is deceptively fast.The Pies need for pace has been eased a bit with Hoskin, Stephenson and Murray who may well come back in this week. His calm personality shows in his shooting for goal. Remember the clutch goal from the boundary to beat the Swans last year? He has been a great pick up for the Pies and forms one of the rotational forward line of mid sized goal kickers in Hoskin, De Goey, Thomas and Stephenson. Opposition can't cover them all and usually one of them gets off the leash. I am waiting to hear the signings of Thomas and Hoskin-Elliott as the longer the club leaves it the more other clubs will be circling. Time to stitch up De Goey, Thomas and Hoskin-Elliott now. Moore may be tricky as may well be headed to Sydney.