FORGING a career as a key defender in the AFL is no easy task.
Hawthorn’s James Frawley has done just that – and will play his 150th AFL game against Geelong on Saturday night.
The first-year Hawk, who joined the club over the off-season after 139 games for Melbourne, will reach the milestone when he plays his 11th game in the brown and gold in a blockbuster clash at the MCG.
Originally recruited by the Demons with pick 12 in the 2006 AFL Draft from the North Ballarat Rebels, the 26-year-old has built a reputation on his ability to shut down the best forwards in the competition.
Frawley said it had been a long but enjoyable journey to 150 games.
“My first year of AFL I probably struggled a bit – I suppose being skinny and playing full back is a pretty tough initiation,” he said.
“When I was that young I never thought I would play that many games.
“But to reach 150 is a pretty good achievement and I’m pretty proud of that – hopefully there’s a few to go.”
Frawley played nine games in his debut season and 11 the year after – and credits some good coaches for helping fast-track development.
“We weren’t going that flash in 2007 and I just got chucked in there and it was sink or swim,” he said.
“I struggled the first few games, but the year after I came back and because I played a few games I had a bit of confidence that I could actually play at the level.
“It helped a lot having good coaches – blokes like Sean Wellman and Jade Rawlings who I had as line coaches really helped me along the way.”
Two years later Frawley was an All-Australian defender – and he hasn’t looked back since.
“I think 2010 when I and made the All-Australian team which was a big surprise for me,” he said.
“I was playing alright footy, but I didn’t think I was going that well."
Frawley highlights Lance Franklin, Nick Riewoldt and Jonathan Brown as among his toughest opponents – but there have been plenty he says.
While the defender’s Hawthorn career has just begun, his superb effort holding Franklin goalless in Round 8 this year has arguably been his best performance for the club to date.
He said working hard has been his focus as he aims to settle in at Waverley Park.
“I was pretty nervous at the start, coming into a new group, but they’ve treated me really well – they’re all really nice blokes,” Frawley said.
“I’ve just been trying to keep my head down, bum up, work as hard as I can and try to learn the game plan, which I’m starting to get I think.
“Coming into a backline with guys like Josh Gibson and Brian Lake, it’s been about working out their strengths and weakness and where I fit into it all.”
Injuries have limited Frawley’s availability for the Hawks – he’s missed two blocks of four games through pectoral and shoulder injuries respectively – but he’s happy to be back on the park and contributing to the team.
A win against the Cats on Saturday night will help boost the Hawks’ top-two chances.
Frawley just wants to keep contributing – and he hopes this will be the year he gets a long-awaited taste of finals football.
“We’ve been playing some pretty alright footy as a team, so hopefully we can continue that and play well on the weekend,” he said.
“I just want to play my role, do what I can to help the team win and put us in a good spot to challenge during the finals.”
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