Defence wins premierships. At times this can be a throwaway line, but it rings true for many of the great AFL sides in recent memory.
There’s no doubting the Hawks have had a poor first half of the season, sitting in 17th with three wins and ten losses. However, Alastair Clarkson has the wheels in motion on a new-look back line that he hopes will drive his club to a 14th premiership.
Take a look at the next potential Hawthorn premiership defence.
Left back pocket: Blake Hardwick (24 years old, 95 games)
He is pretty much the first man picked on the team sheet every week. Hardwick is the ever-reliable back pocket every back six requires. He’s as tough as they come, with the ability to also hit targets, exemplified by his 82 per cent disposal efficiency this season. Hardwick polled second in the best and fairest in 2018, as well as fifth in 2019, which shows how valued he is internally. He also recently signed a three-year contract extension, keeping him in brown and gold until the end of 2024.
Full back: James Sicily (26 years old, 93 games)
Everyone knows the talent this man possesses. At full flight, James Sicily is a genuine star of the competition. An ACL injury mid-way through 2020 halted what was looking like an All Australian season and Sicily will miss the entire 2021 campaign. He slots straight back into the Hawthorn back line going forward after averaging 22 disposals and seven marks a game since making the switch to defence halfway through the 2017 season. He will be a welcome addition to the Hawks’ 2022 line-up.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Right back pocket: Will Day (20 years old, 15 games)
Drafted with pick 13 in the 2019 national draft, Will Day was taken by the Hawks with their earliest selection since Cyril Rioli in 2007. Coming into the club at just 76 kilograms, many thought Day would take a while to put on the required bulk to play senior footy. Nevertheless when he got his chance in Round 6 of the 2020 season, he didn’t look back and became the shining light in a bleak campaign for the Hawks. Despite playing just 11 games for the season, Day came in tenth in the Hawks’ best and fairest and finished fifth in the AFL Rising Star voting. An ankle injury has derailed his 2021 season so far, but Day will be a mainstay in the Hawthorn defence for at least the next decade.
Left half back: Jarman Impey (25 years old, 134 games)
Recruited from the Power in 2017, Impey has turned into a valued half back flanker for the Hawks. Averaging 22 disposals a match this season, Impey’s run and rebound is crucial to a Hawthorn side that’s often been criticised for its slow ball movement. Another player who has had to overcome an ACL injury, Impey is enjoying a non-interrupted 2021 campaign and is thriving.
Centre half back: Denver Grainger-Barras (19 years old, zero games)
The highly touted youngster was selected at pick six in the 2020 national draft, however he hasn’t been able to play a senior game yet due to a knee injury sustained in a pre-season practice match. Grainger-Barras possesses elite intercepting skills and an ability to read the play not too many other players have. Back playing footy in the VFL last weekend, he will push for a debut in the remaining weeks of the 2021 season.
Right half back: Changkuoth Jiath (22 years old, 20 games)
He is the new cult hero of the Hawthorn Football Club, maybe even the entire AFL. Jiath has been a revelation this season for the Hawks, ranking elite in intercept possessions, contested possessions, intercept marks, one-percenters and handballs. His ball use is also improving rapidly, going at 82 per cent disposal efficiency this season. When this guy takes the game on, the whole stadium is on the edge of their seats. We all can’t wait to see the heights Jiath will reach in the years to come.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Interchange: Jack Scrimshaw (22 years old, 39 games)
Coming across from the Suns at the end of 2018, Jack Scrimshaw had to overcome some niggling injuries to play some consistent footy in brown and gold. Wearing the number 14 guernsey previously worn by four-time premiership hero Grant Birchall, many Hawthorn supporters now feel that Scrimshaw has stepped into his shoes perfectly. His lethal left boot and 83 per cent disposal efficiency this season certainly reminds me of the Hawthorn premiership champion. Scrimshaw is also averaging a career-high 21 disposals this season, as well as ranking elite in intercept marks.
Depth: Sam Frost (27 years old, 120 games)
The former Demon has been a valuable recruit for the Hawks since switching clubs in the 2019 trade period. Frost won the Hawthorn players’ player of the year in his first season at the club in 2020, while in 2021 his best performance came in Round 13 when he kept an in-form Lance Franklin to just one goal and minimal impact. Nearing 28 years of age, Frost will be hoping he’s still around for the next Hawthorn flag tilt but he is currently an important cog in the Hawks’ defence.
Depth: Damon Greaves (21 years old, six games)
Greaves has proven he can play at the top level, with his best performance coming in the final round of the 2020 season against Gold Coast. He collected 21 disposals and had eight rebound 50s in a 51-point victory for the Hawks. However, he’ll have to play some good footy to force his way into this talented, young Hawthorn defensive unit.
The average age of this Hawthorn defensive group is roughly 23, which is the perfect demographic for a club moving through a rebuild. While the side as a whole is struggling this year, the back line isn’t a major problem for the Hawks.
Prior to Round 14 they sat in ninth spot in terms of points per inside 50s against, so the Hawks’ defence is holding up reasonably well for the amount of entries the opposition are getting inside 50. Hawthorn is also 16th in clearances across the competition, which heaps pressure on the back line.
When Hawthorn next challenge for a premiership remains to be seen, but when they do, this defensive unit should be cherry ripe for a flag tilt.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
You have some up and comers here, particularly Jiath, but I would not go as far as to say this group will be part of Hawthorn's next premiership. Starting from 17th right now, there will be a lot of developing, trading and improving even if (and it is a pretty big if) the Hawks are to successfully challenge for a flag in the next few years. There are several clubs who are arguably further along in that 2-5 year timeframe than Hawthorn.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Threat to Richmond numbers too? Why is that "rubbish"? You Vics always throw VFL stats into AFL numbers.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I do.
Tarquin Oakley
Roar Rookie
Actually that’s incorrect Don, Hawthorn have won the most flags in the AFL with 5 (91, 08, 13, 14, 15) and West Coast have 4 (92, 94, 06, 18). All I’m saying is it’s very difficult to win 20 premierships in 70 odd years, and I don’t think you’ll do it. Happy to revisit this when the time comes, however!
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Rubbish argument, Don. And you surely know it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Read my post below. West Coast blitzes Hawthorn on flags per season in the AFL. If you want to count VFL flags, you'd have to add East Freo and South Freo flags in the WAFL. You wouldn't want to go there.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'd probably need to get familiar with exponential maths if you want to run with that idea. The bulk of their flags have been in the past 40 years. Prior to that they only had 9 or less Vic clubs to compete against to pick up their first few flags not 17 clubs. Glib and empty argument, Tarqs.
Tarquin Oakley
Roar Rookie
Hawks have been in the comp for 96 seasons and have won 13 flags, going at roughly a flag every 7 seasons. Freo have been in the comp for 27 seasons and have won 0 flags, going at 0 flags every 27 seasons. Your prediction of 20 flags by the time you reach Hawthorn’s current time in the competition would mean one flag every 3.45 seasons for the next 69 years. No team in the competition has gone close to that rate over their existence. The closest team? Hawthorn.
Tarquin Oakley
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate! Yes I agree completely, our backline looks very promising but other areas of the ground need work. It’s good to see Koschitzke and Moore develop this season in the forward half, but as you said we do lack firepower down there. And yes, Clarko at the helm just makes you breath easier doesn’t it! We’re in good hands.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
A well researched article Tarquin, I have to agree with you our defence does look promising for the years ahead, however I’m quite concerned that we have struggled to kick a winning score also. During our great periods, of the eighties and the last decade, we had standout forward lines, unfortunately this doesn’t apply at the moment. Until this is resolved we won’t achieve a complete turnaround. Having said that I have full faith in Clarkson to do it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Haven't been in the comp for the 100 plus years the Hawks have. They'll have over 20 by that time.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Yes, Changkuoth Jiath exciting to watch.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Freo never have
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The Hawks aren't defending a premiership.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yeah locking up Sicily on a key forward would diminish his value to the side. The lineup above has too many smalls and flankers. Sicily is the third tall - like Tom Stewart for the Cats - which leaves DGB as the only tall defender. Frost isn't particularly fashionable but he's currently very important to the Hawks' backline because he's one of the only known quantities they have to play on the big forwards. This backline would look a lot stronger with Frost squeezing out Day (who I think will still be a good player). Or perhaps Jiath eventually moves up to the wing? A good problem to have.
Tarquin Oakley
Roar Rookie
Frost is currently quite important to our side. I'm hoping DGB can replace him when Frost's career starts to come to an end. One more key defender would be handy to have in our tool kit as well.
Tarquin Oakley
Roar Rookie
Even if we do need one more key tall I feel our defence is still the area of least concern.
Tarquin Oakley
Roar Rookie
Yeah Sicily and DGB can probably swap positions. It’ll be interesting to see if we do get another key tall how he fits into this side, as I think those first 7 players named are pretty much locks going forward. Maybe Will Day pushes into the midfield eventually? I’m hoping DGB can play a Harris Andrews role, intercepting but also locking down a key forward at the same time. What type of player he becomes remains to be seen though.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Some good talent there in the Hawks backline & a positive for Hawks fans. I agree that James Sicily isn't best suited to a one on one fullback role. He will always be outsized by the bigger forwards like Dixon, Lynch, Hawkins & Buddy. He has a great talent knowing when to leave his opponent & assist a team-mate containing their opponent when required or taking an intercept mark. Cant wait to see him back in 2022.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think the Hawks need one more key defender. James Sicily is more of a third tall and a little too small to wrestle with the best key forwards. That’s why Sam Frost is so important because I think he still has a role in the best 22 of hawthorn and he’s also exceptionally athletic for a key defender of a little inconsistent.