Entering the 2019 season, there are nine players on Hawthorn’s list who are yet to make their senior debut.

Having recently injured his finger, Murray Bushrangers product Jacob Koschitzke is the only one of this group who didn’t make an appearance in the Hawks’ opening JLT Series clash against Brisbane on Sunday.

So, given that the Hawthorn faithful has now seen most of this list in action, we’ve taken a look at how these hopefuls are shaping towards their first taste of senior football.

Read: "A unique opportunity"

 

Mathew Walker

Arriving at the club with Pick 63 in the 2018 draft, Walker was touted as a medium-sized forward who was strong overhead and could play taller than his height suggested. The 188cm Albury native did this reputation no harm when he took a strong contested mark amongst a considerable pack in the opening minutes of his playing time on the weekend. The 19-year-old showed a level of maturity to follow up his mark with a composed set shot conversion. Post-match, Walker said his goal for 2019 is to produce consistent football after an injury-interrupted draft year. If he is generating these kinds of highlights with reliability, a senior selection might not be out of the question in his first year in the brown and gold.  


Jacob Koschitzke

As mentioned, Koschitzke was withheld from appearing on Sunday due to a finger injury which should see him remain away from the main group for another week or so. A junior teammate of Walker’s, Koschitzke has arrived at the club with the most mature body of his fellow draftees. With an ability to play at key posts of either end of the ground, the 196cm prospect will look to hone his craft with Box Hill early in the season.

 

Dylan Moore

One of the favourites to be the first debutant of the Hawks’ season, Dylan Moore has barely put a foot wrong through his first 15 months at the club. Enjoying a steady rate of improvement in his opening season at the Ricoh Centre, Moore’s development culminated in an outstanding VFL finals series, earning him a premiership medallion and the club’s Best Player of the Finals award. The 19-year-old has continued to press his claim over an impressive summer, where his endurance and work ethic have come to the fore. Moore was serviceable against the Lions, recording nine touches, three marks, three tackles, four inside 50s and a goal.

 

Jackson Ross

Jackson Ross might not yet have the body of an AFL key position forward, but he showed a cool bag of tricks throughout moments on Sunday. It’s difficult to not make comparisons to Jack Gunston with Ross who, standing at 193cm, is both similar dimensions and has a similar playing style to his All Australian teammate. The 19-year-old is obviously still a way off becoming a player of Gunston’s calibre, but the combination of goal kicking nous, work ethic and ability on both sides makes for an interesting watch in 2019.

 

Changkuoth Jiath

Jiath was held back until the second half on Sunday but, when he got his chance, he proved one of the Hawks’ best in the third and fourth terms. Playing predominantly off the half-back line, Jiath recorded nine disposals, four marks, three rebound 50s and two tackles against the Lions, while also taking two albeit wayward shots at goal in his limited time. Another one who has excelled throughout the pre-season, it will be intriguing to see how the number 29’s 2019 pans out.

 

Harrison Jones

A name that has been bandied around as a candidate to fill the role of Tom Mitchell all summer, Jones only improved his chances of a senior debut with an impressive performance on Sunday. The second-year midfielder was laborious in a performance that saw him register 21 possessions, six marks, five rebound 50s and four tackles. Completely recovered from a shoulder injury which hampered the second half of his 2018 campaign, Jones’ has continued to develop his body in readiness for his AFL chance.

 

Oliver Hanrahan

One of the more unheralded names of the Hawks’ top performers on the weekend, many fans may have been scurrying for information about Hanrahan after he raced to 12 possessions in the opening half. A crafty small forward who has the ability to move into the midfield, Hanrahan showed no fear at the next level and quickly became one to watch for the Lions defence. The 20-year-old finished with 19 touches in an impressive showing as he continues to hunt down his maiden senior opportunity.

 

Damon Greaves

Greaves quickly stood out in his first training sessions in the brown and gold with his level-headedness and clean foot skills. Senior players were impressed by the way the West Australian conducted himself through his first summer and he was rewarded with a JLT Series berth on Sunday. These traits were again on show from Greaves as the 18-year-old operated at an outstanding 83.3 per cent disposal efficiency from his 12 touches. The quietly spoken defender will work away at 2019 in his characteristic unassuming way, but don’t be surprised if you quickly warm to Greaves due to his reliability and composure out of the back half.

 

Will Golds

Last but not last is Will Golds – one of the true stand-outs for the Hawks in Sunday’s loss. Golds showed off his outstanding aerobic capacity throughout the pre-season, consistently pushing the best runners in the club in each and every session. Like Greaves, these attributes that were so readily apparent across the pre-season were quickly transferred to the senior football stage as Golds worked his way to an impressive 25-possession performance. A willingness to learn, Golds will be hungry to get the most out of his debut season in the brown and gold.