Welcome to our new draftees

[Mr.Craig]

National Draft

Pick 31 - Daniel Howe (Utility) Murray Bushrangers



12/4/95 191cm/84kg

Hawks - Mobile tall defender with strong overhead marking ability. Takes the game on and shows initiative. Impressed as a 19-year-old in four matches for Vic Country in NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 17 disposals, four marks, two tackles and two clearances at 76 per cent efficiency. Played 11 games in the TAC Cup, averaging 19 touches. Was equal-second in kicking test (28/30) at NAB AFL Draft Combine. What Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright said: "He's a half back/midfielder with outstanding courage, great hands, great vision and kicks the ball really well. He's another one who's a really good athlete, a good endurance athlete and we think in time he'll go into the midfield even though he might start at half back. But we feel in time he can go through the midfield."

Knightmare - Howe is a relatively reliable user of the ball by hand and foot and his disposal efficiency is overall high. He knows his limitations as a mostly safe and efficient ball user but he is not someone who will look to do damage or generate meaningful drive off his own boot often. By hand Howe is typically more willing to take risks and look to draw opponents before delivering it to a meaningful target by hand. A high proportion of the ball Howe wins is contested ball. He is very much a see ball, win ball guy and someone who wins the contested ball around the ground, seemingly moving quicker towards the footy whenever it is in his vicinity. His work at ground level is very good and someone who is very clean with his pick ups off the deck. I see Howe following a similar developmental path to Jack Crisp. I see Howe starting out more as a back or forward and eventually working his way into someone who can play more through the midfield. Howe is not as explosive with his running or the same level tackler but is probably a more skilled version, but as a tallish type I see some similarities and an overall fairly similar quality player.

Highlights - http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-20/draft-prospect-daniel-howe
TAC Stats - http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=196134482&client=0-3020-111726-294694-20320262


Pick 49 - Teia Miles (Midfielder) Geelong Falcons



180cm/70kg

Hawks - Small midfielder sets up play with rebound from defence. Averaged 19 disposals in 16 appearances for the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup. Can also play forward or in the midfield. Impressed in five games for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 15 possessions in five matches. Finished fifth in the agility run at the NAB AFL Draft Combine (8.27 sec). What Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright said: "He's the son of Geoff Miles, the ex-Collingwood and West Coast Eagles player. He's 180cm tall, 70kg and really quick. He plays forward and back, has great natural movement and has really good endurance. "He won the Geelong Falcons best and fairest this year. We think he's got the potential to play back and forward and even to play a tagging role at times. "We're really excited to get him where we did and I think he'll be a great player for the future for us."

Highlights - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7aLDIH4_R8
TAC Stats - http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=196055700&client=1-3020-111704-294694-20320268&ocompID=294694


Pick 50 - Marc Pittonet (Ruck) Oakleigh Chargers



3/6/96 202cm/106kg

Hawks - Ruckman who is highly competitive and aggressive in the contest and directs the ball well at stoppages. Has good skill set, including his overhead marking. Covers the ground well and represented Vic Metro in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 11 disposals, five marks, three tackles and a goal at 81 per cent efficiency in two matches. Averaged 12 touches at TAC Cup level in 12 games. Finished equal-second in the clean hands test (25/30) at the NAB AFL Draft Combine. What Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright said: "Marc's an interesting one, we strategically from our perspective didn't have a lot to do with him during the year but we always felt with Luke Lowden going out, we needed to bring in another ruckman. Marc's 106kgs, 202cm and 18 years old, so he's a big, big boy and we feel in time he can develop into a really good ruckman."

Highlights - http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-16/draft-prospect-mark-pittonet
TAC Stats - http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=195227891&client=1-3020-111727-294694-20320284&ocompID=294694


No real surprise to see us pick up a couple of guys with the ability to play a number of roles. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointing we overlooked Blakely and Neal-Bullen, not to mention Harry Dear. Still, Howe and MIles seem to be likely types and Pittonet is just there as safety while giving Box Hill another ruck option. Considering the picks we had I think the Hawks did a fair job.

[Rusty00]

No real surprise to see us pick up a couple of guys with the ability to play a number of roles. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointing we overlooked Blakely and Neal-Bullen, not to mention Harry Dear. Still, Howe and MIles seem to be likely types and Pittonet is just there as safety while giving Box Hill another ruck option. Considering the picks we had I think the Hawks did a fair job.

I was surprised that both Blakely and Neal-Bullen were both still on the board at 31 and thought that either one of those would have given us that contested midfielder we need with Sewell retiring and the likes of Mitchell and Hodge getting on a bit.

Oh well, I'm definitely no expert so hopefully these young guys turn out to be stars :)

[Mr.Craig]

There's always the trade period next year. ;)

[Scrads]

We basically got O'Rourke as a result of our draft picks too so that's a nice 4 players we are adding really :)

[Mr.Craig]

True that.

[Pkbaldy]

Daniel Howe is a freak. Great pick up for you guys. Worthy Bush-ranger.

[Ricochet]

Really thought Blakely was going to you boys if he was available

[Mr.Craig]

I just wonder if the go home factor was a consideration given Blakely and Neal-Bullen probably wouldn't have got many games in their first few years. :-\

[Ricochet]

Yeh good point actually

[Mr.Craig]

Rookie Draft

Pick 18 - Jared Hardisty (Midfielder) Claremont



178cm/86kg

Hawks - A hard-running, hard-nosed inside midfielder who was a ball magnet for Claremont in its charge to the WAFL Colts Grand Final. He averaged 27 touches per game in the midfield. He has great competitiveness and an enormous tank, running a 15.4 beep test. Can be swung forward and is a very team-oriented player with good skills. Is also a strong tackler, averaging 3.4 per game this season.

Highlights - http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-28/draft-prospect-jared-hardisty
Stats - http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/4917


Pick 36 - Jermaine Miller-Lewis (Forward)



187cm/75kg

Hawks - Talented medium forward missed the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships because of injury. His speed and ability to read the play makes him a dangerous target, particularly on the lead. Can often make something out of nothing. Plays the game with a hard edge and genuine competitive spirit.

Highlights - http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-09-16/draft-prospect-jermaine-millerlewis
Stats - http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/4911


Pick 53 - Lachie Langford (Utility) Melbourne Grammar



189cm/83kg

Hawks - The brother of Hawthorn's Will and son of Club great Chris Langford, Lachlan is an athletic 189cm utility who can play across half forward and even as key position. He has good foot skills.

Highlights - http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2014-12-03/welcome-to-hawthorn-lachlan-langford


Pick 65 - Sam Grimley (Ruck/Forward) Hawthorn



199cm/96kg

Hawks - An athletic and mobile ruckman, Grimley played predominantly as a forward in the VFL, for Hawthorn's VFL affiliate Box Hill. Possessing a good leap and an accurate set shot for goal, Grimley's athleticism for his size makes him a unique player for his size. Grimley finished the year in outstanding fashion, booting 13 goals in Box Hill's last two games of the home-and-away season to finish as the joint winner of the Frosty Miller Medal as the VFL's leading goal kicker. He made his AFL debut in 2013 after four seasons on the list and played a further two games to take his career total to three.

Highlights - http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/2014-12-03/welcome-back-to-hawthorn-sam-grimley
Stats - http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=192155803&client=1-118-10469-294689-20320228&ocompID=294689


Verdict - Hardisty looks like a real Mitchell type, just the kind of player we have been begging for. Very excited about Miller-Lewis, he's got X Factor written all over him and seems like a good lad. Langford was obviously the big surprise, the highlights suggest his game has a bit in common with his dad's. I find it a bit strange we have taken a punt on him, while overlooking Harry Dear but that's just me. Grimley stays on the list, he's got 12 months to prove his worth or he'll be out the door.

[Nige]

Is it just me or does Lachlan Langford look like he's 13?

[Mr.Craig]

He probably was in that photo, I was struggling to find one so I swiped it off his Facebook.

[Ricochet]

Wow, serioulsy surprised Hardisty ran that beeper. He needed to go on the Jeremy McGovern diet at the end of the year

[Mr.Craig]

He's a golden nugget. :P

[Ricochet]

He's a golden nugget. :P

haha a nugget alright