James Sicily is set to play his 100th game when he takes to the MCG against Melbourne this Saturday.
Sicily, or ‘Sis’ as he is affectionately known by teammates and fans, joined the club via Pick 56 in the 2013 National Draft.
After missing the second half of the 2020 season and all of 2021 due to a knee injury, the 27-year-old defender has made a brilliant return to football this year.
Sicily has been in impressive form across the first six rounds, averaging a career-high 23 disposals running at an impressive 81.2 per cent efficiency, as well as raking in a team-high three intercept marks a game.
Among the players league-wide so far this season, Sicily is ranked second for marks (9.3 per game), ranked eighth for intercept possessions (8.3), seventh for rebound 50s (7) and 11th for intercept marks (3).
He is also rated 12th in the competition for metres gained, averaging 514.3m per game, with his elite long kicking invaluable to the Hawks ability to launch attacking forays from the defensive line.
The 100-game milestone occasion will carry some additional weight for the star after he was recently announced as the club’s stand-in captain in absence of injured Ben McEvoy.
Sicily will be handed the reins from Jaeger O’Meara who has handled the captaincy up to this point.
Prior to the 2022 season, Sicily spoke on his leadership aspirations, sharing his ambition to become a club leader.
He has since delivered, arguably reaffirming himself among the conversation of the league’s best defenders, while proving a leader across the Hawks defensive line.
Sicily has earned praise from Coach Sam Mitchell and his teammates for his leadership qualities, following a year on the sidelines where he spent time on development during his time away from the game.
The 2016 season was regarded as Sicily’s breakout year, earning Hawthorn’s Most Promising Player award as well as becoming a NAB Rising Star nominee following a career-high five goal performance in Round 13.
During the 2017 season, Sicily was shifted to the backline after previously playing forward.
In 2018 he finished in 4th place in the Peter Crimmins Medal, and then 5th place in 2019.
That same year he was selected in the extended All Australian squad for that year, making him the only Hawthorn player to do so.
Sicily is the 144th player to reach the 100-game milestone at Hawthorn.
Hear more from Sis ahead of his 100th game below.
