Hawthorn's wheelchair football team has been bolstered with the recruitment of eight new players and the appointment of Senior Coach Brian Cartwright, ahead of its third season in the VWFL. 

Cartwright comes to the Hawks with ample coaching experience having been involved in Hawthorn’s Next Generation Academy and with a current role in the coaching group for Box Hill’s VFL team.

Cartwright will be coaching an exciting new line-up for the 2020 VWFL season with Hawthorn picking up five new players on Wednesday night at the VWFL draft.

With the club’s first pick, the Hawks drafted talented youngster Jaylen Brown, who at just 15 years of age, has a wealth of experience in wheelchair sport having represented Australia in U23 wheelchair basketball.

Alongside Brown, who is a Warrnambool local, Hawthorn has drafted Will Firth from Longford, Alastair McNeil from Kew, Antonet Pavilupillai from Preston and Rosie Jenes from Ormond.

Hawthorn also had the opportunity to sign three rookie-listed players in Attaya Sam and Ricky Cox from the Red Dust Heelers in Western Australia, along with Tristan Orchard from the Northern Territory.

See Hawthorn’s full 2020 VWFL line up below:
Jaylen Brown (new)
Will Firth (new)
Alastair McNeil (new)
Antonet Pavilupillai (new)
Rosie Jenes (new)
Attaya Sam (rookie)
Tristan Orchard (rookie)
Ricky Cox (rookie)
Joe Chivers (Tasmania)
Peter Ogunyemi
Jeremy O'Halloran
Joanna Argaet
Troy Hawkins

The VWFL 2020 fixture has also been finalised with Hawthorn playing in ten rounds, facing each team twice. All games throughout the season will be played at Boroondara Sports Complex.

2020 VWFL fixture:

Hawthorn’s Wheelchair Team is made possible thanks to the support of the club’s new social inclusion partner, Afford.  With over 65 years of experience, Afford are one of Australia’s longest serving disability service providers. To find out more, please click here.