HE HAS played just eight games for the Hawks but ruckman Ben McEvoy will reach 100 league games if he’s selected for Saturday night’s blockbuster against Sydney at the MCG.

Recruited to the Hawks via last year’s trade period, McEvoy played 91 games with St Kilda between 2008-2013.

He was drafted by the Saints with the ninth overall pick in the 2007 National Draft.

Since arriving at Hawthorn, the big ruckman has impressed with his outstanding aerobic capacity for his size, impressing with his ground coverage at training over the pre-season.

He made his debut for the Hawks in Round 1 this year against Brisbane in Tasmania, where he had 22 hit outs, 13 disposals and kicked a goal.

McEvoy has, however, battled injury in his first season in brown and gold.

After playing the first two matches of 2014, McEvoy missed rounds 3 and 4 with a calf issue and then injured his hamstring in Round 10.

For six weeks he didn’t play a game at senior level, instead had to force his way back into the Hawthorn team through strong performances with the Club’s VFL affiliate, Box Hill.

After two games at the lower level, McEvoy earned a senior recall for the stirring win over Adelaide in Round 17, where he played his best game for the Hawks to date.

In the 12-point win, McEvoy had 24 hit outs, picked up 15 disposals and booted two goals in a performance that best illustrated why his recruitment was such a coup for Hawthorn.

An outstanding overhead mark who can push both forward and back, McEvoy has been a valuable inclusion for the Hawks this season, providing flexibility and strength to the ruck and forward positions.

This season he has averaged 13 disposals, 21.6 hit outs, 2.6 tackles and 4.2 marks, while over his career his he averaged 11.7 disposals, 18.4 hit outs, 3.0 tackles and 4.5 marks.