Hawthorn has locked in the club’s third AFLW recruit with Sophie Locke committing to sign with the brown and gold.
Locke has played six games with Port Melbourne in the VFLW this season, registering 16.7 disposals, 2.3 marks as well as an average of two shots at goal per outing.
The 20-year-old has also recorded 5.5 tackles per game across the opening six rounds, with her aggression and desire to impact the game physically a key strength.
Throughout her junior days with the Murray Bushrangers and Vic Country, Locke plied her trade as a defender but since playing with the Borough more recently she has found her place in the forwardline.
AFLW List Manager Mitchell Cashion said Locke had caught the Hawks’ eye with her on-field ability as well as her highly renowned character off the field.
“Sophie brings X-factor and excitement to our forward line. Her kicking, marking and goal sense make her a player that doesn’t need a lot of the ball to have a big impact on the game,” Cashion said.
“We are thrilled to offer Sophie the opportunity to play football at Hawthorn, with the extra bonus that she is a Hawthorn fan.
“Sophie is a talented footballer but a great character too, she brings with her talent on-field and she is also an energetic and enthusiastic personality which will be important for a young group.
“We’ve watched Sophie closely this year after being a member of the VFLW Team of the Year in 2021. Despite a challenging start to the season from a team perspective, she’s been able to be a player who impacts the scoreboard and consistently creates scoring opportunities.”
Locke joins Bridget Deed and Zoe Barbakos as the initial trio of signings ahead of Hawthorn’s entry into the AFLW competition later this year.
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