Hardwick happy to be a Hawk

GETTING drafted to Hawthorn was a “surreal” feeling for Blake Hardwick.

The Eastern Ranges sharpshooter was recruited by the Hawks after a standout season, in which he was the TAC Cup’s leading goalkicker with 56 majors from 16 matches.

The 18-year-old spent draft night at home in Croydon – a 30-minute drive from Waverley Park – with family and friends, waiting to see if his name would be called out.

When the Hawks called out his name with pick 44, Hardwick said it was “pretty emotional, but very exciting.”

“It’s pretty surreal, the family’s been going crazy,” he said immediately after the draft.

“I was pretty confident (about getting drafted), but you never really know what’s going to happen… I was getting more and more nervous.”

Hardwick grew up supporting Essendon, but that’s about to change – and his family couldn’t be happier.

“I was an Essendon supporter, but mum’s Hawthorn, so everyone’s very happy – especially her,” he said.

Strong on the lead, the 181-centimetre has proven a difficult one-on-one match up in the forward line, boasting the ability to burst away from contested situations.

He kicked ten or more goals on two occasions during the TAC Cup season – including a bag of 12 against Bendigo Pioneers - and featured in four games for Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, averaging 10.8 possessions and 3.8 marks per games.

Hardwick said he was confident his performances throughout the year would give him a good chance of being drafted.

“I wanted to play as an onballer (at the start of the season), but got pushed forward and started to kick a few goals and stayed there,” he said.

“There were a couple of games where I got on the end of the few, but that was the first time I ever kicked 12.”

As a player, he sees himself a bit like West Coast Eagles’ Mark LeCras – “a medium forward that can go on ball as well”.

“As a forward, I think I’m pretty strong in my one-on ones and a good goalkicker, but I’d like to improve my endurance and become an inside onballer,” he said.

Hardwick knows he still has plenty of room for improvement, and said it would be exciting but a bit “nerve-wracking” to start life as a Hawk very shortly.