AFL games: 7
Disposals per game: 8.9
Marks: 2.4
Kicks: 4.6
Tackles: 5.6
Season summary:
Catching the eye of Hawks recruiters, Jai Newcombe was selected with Pick 2 in the 2021 mid-season draft.
The following week, the 20-year-old made his AFL debut in Round 13 against Sydney, setting an AFL record for the most tackles in a debut match, finishing with 14.
A Hawks fan growing up, Newcombe has become more comfortable at AFL-level with each opportunity he received in the senior side.
He laid double-digit tackles in two of his seven outings and won 18 possessions in one of those.
Though quietly spoken, the hard-nosed midfielder isnt afraid of putting his body on the line, bringing a presence and confidence beyond his years.
Best AFL game:
Newcombe's season-best performance came in Round 22 against the Western Bulldogs where he collected 18 disposals, took eight marks and laid a game-high 11 tackles.
How the fans saw him:
How about Jai Newcombe? First went to Box Hill Hawks to make up numbers for a scratch match. Fifteen months later he's preparing for an AFL debut. Six VFL games bridge his football for Poowong seniors and Hawthorn. Stunning.
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) June 10, 2021
