2008 AFL Draft Review - Hawthorn Hawks

Last years Premiers Hawthorn were last cab off the rank come Draft day holding Pick 16 as their top pick. They also had Picks 34, 50, 63, and 75 to go along with 16. When you have just come off a Premiership there are generally not too many areas of the field you are deficient in, however with Hawthorn it has been key defenders and it looks as though they have drafted to suit this need. Let’s have a closer look at who they have drafted.

Pick No. 16 – Ryan Schoenmakers

Ryan Schoenmakers is a key position player drafted from Norwood in the SANFL. Schoenmakers played the large majority of his junior football as a forward but Hawthorn has already specified that he will be developed as a key defender. He has very good endurance and athleticism and is a strong overhead mark. If Schoenmakers wants to make it as a key defender he is going to need to put some weight on as he is still quite light. When playing up forward he was not as effective in a contested situation as he was on the lead when he had space. This is an area as a defender that opposing teams would more than likely look to exploit with Schoenmakers.

Pick No. 34 – Liam Shiels

 

 
Liam Shiels is a medium sized midfielder drafted from the Eastern Ranges. Shiels was the youngest player drafted in 2008 and will complete Year 12 in 2009 so don’t expect to see too much of him. He is a hard inside midfielder who has the great ability of winning his own ball. He is very strong for his age and is also effective by foot when getting the ball in open space.

Pick No. 50 – Jordan Lisle

 

 
Jordan Lisle is a key forward/defender drafted from the Oakleigh Chargers. Lisle is a versatile player who has played as both a key forward and key defender as a junior. He is a very strong mark and is already a good size for a key position player at AFL level. Lisle isn’t the quickest and most agile player going around so this has to be some worry with the pace of the AFL game today. Lisle was tipped to go in the second round so for the Hawks to get him with Pick 50 this looks like a steal.

Pick No. 63 – Luke Lowden

 

 
Luke Lowden is a young developing ruckman drafted from the Sandringham Dragons. Lowden is still very young (17 when drafted) and has not played a lot of football. He will very much be a long term prospect for Hawthorn and someone who they will need to put a lot of work into. Lowden was the tallest player drafted at 204cm and the Hawks expect him to grow even further over the next couple of years. Lowden’s tap work in the ruck has been a highlight at junior level.

Pick No. 75 – Shane Savage

 

 
Shane Savage is a medium sized midfielder draft from the Dandenong Stingrays. Savage has very good foot skills and adequate leg speed for AFL level. He looks as though he will be an outside midfielder at AFL level due to the skills and leg speed. Savage looks as though he could be ready to step straight into senior football so don’t be surprised if he receives a few games in 2009.

Chris Pelchen from Hawthorn had the following to say after the Draft:

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 by the fact we’ll take the player that suits our needs and we’ve done that this year with Ryan Schoenmakers at pick 16. Ryan, while primarily playing his football as a forward, we think he’s got all the key attributes to be developed into a defender.

We were very mindful this year that the drafts will constrict over 2009, 2010 and 2011 with the Gold Coast coming in so we were mindful of trying to select 17-year-olds this year and that’s why we chose three of them in Shane Savage, Luke Lowden and Liam Shiels. The draft certainly unfolded how we thought it would except for Jordan Lisle because we thought it was a real surprise that he fell so deep.

Rounds two and rounds three were the most difficult for most clubs and that was evident that so many clubs asked for extra time. Between picks 20 and 50 it was a very even group of players but we are very, very happy with the result.

Hawthorn picked a variety of different players with its five picks in the draft which included three of the youngest players available. Schoenmakers was earmarked as a forward before the draft but it seems as though the Hawks will mould him into a key defender an area that needs a bit of attention. Shiels was the youngest player drafted and in all likelihood would have been taken a lot higher in next year’s draft. Lisle looks to be one of the steals of the draft after being a 2nd round possibility he slid to the Hawks at Pick 50. Lowden is very much a developing ruckman and will take plenty of time, whilst Savage was a nice get at Pick 75 and looks to have a bit of class and pace. I’m sure the Hawks will be very happy with their collection of draftees to add to their already imposing young list.

How do you think Hawthorn fared at the draft? Do you think the Hawks drafted well for any gaps that they have in their list? Leave us with your thoughts.