What the club says

List manager Chris Pelchen tells hawthornfc.com.au about the club's five selections in the national draft

Draft summary:
"I think it’s fairly common knowledge that we draft to a deliberate recruiting model and, unlike some clubs that will specify they’ll take the best available player, we are a little bit different to that philosophy ... We’ll take the player that suits our needs".

Selection 16: Ryan Schoenmakers
Norwood, SA, medium forward, November 11, 1990, 192cm, 85kg
“Ryan, while primarily playing his football as a forward, we think he’s got all the key attributes to be developed into a defender. He’s an outstanding kick, he won the repeat speed at the draft camp and that’s for a boy who is almost 194cm … We think he can play defence with that closing speed.”
 
Selection 34: Liam Shiels
Eastern Ranges, Vic, Midfielder, April 29, 1991, 183cm, 79kg
“Liam is the youngest boy in this year’s draft and he only qualified by two days. He’s basically an in or outside midfielder and he played for Vic Metro this season as a 17-year-old.

"A very impressive young lad with the way he trains and he will finish Year 12 next year at Aquinas College so we don’t expect to see a lot of him in 2009 but we look forward to him being full-time in 2010.”

Selection 50: Jordan Lisle
Oakleigh Chargers, Vic, Tall forward, July 12, 1990, 196cm, 87kg
“Jordan was probably the surprise of the draft from our perspective because many people would have had him inside their top 25. The fact is, because of needs, we left Jordan a bit later not expecting him to be there at pick 50.

"Is the son of former North Melbourne player Mark and is a very athletic key defender, very strongly built and because of that we think he is some chance to play senior footy next year.”

Selection 63: Luke Lowden
Sandringham Dragons, Vic, Ruckman, February 22, 1991, 204cm, 89kg
“Luke is probably the tallest player in the draft this year [and] will finish Year 12 next year at Caulfield Grammar. He’s a left-footed ruckman and with the testing we’ve done he will likely get to 206cm or 208cm in the end.

"He’s a tap ruckman and we’ll see limited time from him next year as he completes school.”

Selection 75: Shane Savage
Dandenong Stingrays, Vic,
“Shane is a 17-year-old who is an outside midfielder with genuine speed and uses the ball very well. While he’s 17 he has actually finished year 12 so we look forward to him coming on board next season.”

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Chris Pelchen speaks to Clinton Bown for Hawks Radio,
2008 Draft: Pelchen