Hawthorn has added two new wheelchair players to its list following the Victorian Wheelchair Football League draft on Tuesday.
The Hawks pounced on John Secombe with Pick 2 in the draft before selecting 16-year-old Yassin Hill through the club’s academy region in Melbourne’s East.
Currently based in Diggers Rest in Melbourne’s north-west, Secombe is new to wheelchair sports but the club believes he packs plenty of promise ahead of the upcoming season which is set to start on April 10.
A proud Jardwadjali, Gunditjmara and Djawurunwang man, Secombe is also an artist with his work having been displayed at exhibitions in the Hume region.
Hill was a late arrival into Hawthorn’s draft calculations after the youngster attended the club’s Family Day Wheelchair Football Come and Try event only last week.
The Kilsyth product showed off enormous natural talent likely on the back of his experience playing both wheelchair tennis and basketball.
A lifelong Hawthorn fan whose favourite player is Changkuoth Jiath, the club is rapt to have played a part in Hill living out his dream to wear the brown and gold.
General Manager - Development, Infrastructure & Government Relations Kerrie Brewer said the club was honoured to welcome both Secombe and Hill into the Hawthorn family.
“To have John and Yassin join us ahead of this year’s wheelchair season is a really exciting moment for the club,” Brewer said.
“We believe both players will be great cultural fits for our team and they both bring some great experience and education to further develop our wheelchair program.”
Through the draft process, Hawthorn also retained Mark Titford, Robbie Deverell, Antonet Pavilupillai and Luis Gonzalez.
The club was also excited to recruit Nakaiya Payne who hails from the club's Katherine academy zone.
To support our Social Inclusion pillars, please visit community.hawthornfc.com.au to donate.
Hawthorn’s Wheelchair Team is made possible thanks to the support of the club’s 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.
