With Hawthorn on a bye this week, Development Coach Andy Otten has given his take on how each Hawk forward has performed throughout the 2022 season so far.

Mitch Lewis 

“I think we can all agree that Mitch has had an outstanding year so far, his on-field output has been fantastic. I think his strong pre-season really set himself up for this season. His leadership has also been really consistent. In the past, it was probably a little reliant on form. But seeing his leadership on a consistent basis – especially during film sessions – he’s really vocal. I think he has really taken the leadership reins on board and is really flourishing in that role.”

Dylan Moore  

“Dyl is a little pocket rocket, he’s so energetic. He’s a bit of a barometer for us for our training. He’s so full of energy and is the life of the group and a real leader in that sense as well. He goes really hard at training and his output on the field exemplifies the way he trains. He is so hard-working, honest and tough. Hitting the scoreboard as well, I think we all love the way Moorey’s been playing. The last few games he’s been able to move more into the midfield and adding those strengths to his bow, which is a great credit to him.”

Jack Gunston

“Gunners has been able to play 10 games for us, and has influenced those quite heavily. His leadership on-field is great, he is such an experienced player and I think he’s really taken that under his wing. He’s doing one-on-one sessions with Jai Serong, watching all of Jai’s film tapes with him. He’s become a great leader, and a secondary coach really on the field. He’s such an experienced player and the coaches rely on him to give us feedback on how the game is being played as well.”

Chad Wingard 

“Chad’s role has probably changed slightly from last year, he was probably a bit more on-ball in 2021. So, we’ve played him a bit more deeper forward, just on the necessity that we’ve needed that. Every time it gets in his area, he looks super dangerous. He’s so selfless when he does get the ball, giving his teammates some better options. I think at his best he is one of the most damaging players on the ground for us.”

Luke Breust  

“Similar to Gunners, Punky has taken on a real leadership role of the forward line. I think those two have really set the scene. In the line meetings and the team meetings, Gunners and Punky have really taken control. Punky is doing one-on-one tapes with Sam Butler every week, with Jack Saunders every other week as well with Connor Macdonald. I think Punky realises that these players need his wisdom and he’s enlisting that onto these players which is fantastic to see. It’s invaluable for these players, and it’s genuine as well, it’s not coach-driven. Sometimes the players can roll their eyes at the coach, but when its coming from another player like Punky’s credentials, they listen. He and Butsy have formed this really good bond, and it’s a real credit to Punky.”

Sam Butler 

“Butsy started in the VFL and we saw some glimpses of his potential. He’s really tough, he looks for contact, which is what you love to see from a young player and he can hit the scoreboard as well. He works bloody hard up and down the ground. He is hanging in Punky’s pocket and is just so eager to learn and trying to absorb as much information as he can, while still producing some really exciting footy for us.”

Jacob Koschitzke

“Kosi started off this year in the VFL, crashing packs and doing what he does best, he just had to find a bit of form early in the year. I think since he has come back in the side, he has done what we have expected. He’s a contest player that creates really strong contests and takes great contested marks. This year we’ve also seen him develop some second ruck craft which I think has really freed him up as well. He really enjoys going in the ruck and getting up and down the ground a bit. It’s really cool to see him implement that element and then train it during the week as well with Monky our ruck coach, I think that has been an important development for him this year.”

Connor Macdonald  

“To play 11 games in a row as a first-year player is a great effort from him. He works really hard, he’s a two-way player for us. He creates something out of nothing and is a really exciting player for this club. He’s worked really close with our Head of Development Andy Collins, and he’s another one of those players that Punky has helped out as well. That young forward brigade we’ve got is really exciting.”

Jackson Callow

“Callow made his debut this year and has played three games which is a great effort from him. His VFL form had been really consistent and strong, and he’d love to produce that at AFL level and I think he’s not far away from that. He’ll get another chance in the second half of the year, when he does, he’ll take that with both hands. He has taken so much confidence from knowing that he belonged there at that AFL level, which is important to have. I think getting the feel for the speed of the game and the strength of the opposition is just important. What’s been pleasing is when he came back to play VFL, he played that way and dominated there for us.”

Emerson Jeka

“Emerson has had an interesting year so far. To his own standards, he started off the year a bit slower than he would like. As he was getting into some strong VFL form he unfortunately got injured and did his hamstring, so he has missed the last few weeks. We’re keen to get him back after the bye. The game he got injured, he kicked five goals in a half, so he was just hitting his straps. He’s taken a lot of confidence out of the way he was playing before he got injured. We’re looking for Jeka just to get back to consistent footy and get some performances on the board, and who knows what can happen in the second half of the year for him.”

Tyler Brockman

“Young Brocky had some injury issues through pre-season earlier this year. The sad thing is he got himself really fit and ready to play and then the first game he played in the VFL, he hurt his shoulder and has required a shoulder reconstruction, which was pretty shattering for him. But he’s still been around the club, smiling and being his bubbly self. We’ll wrap his arms around him and make sure he’s well-supported through this rehab period.”

Jai Serong

“Jai has been developing as a third key forward for us. He had a great game on the weekend just been, it was his best VFL game so far. He was able to get his hands on the footy, mark the ball and kick a couple of goals. We’ve been really pleased with his development so far this year. He’s a young player coming in, so we’re just asking him to keep getting better. He and Gunners have formed a strong relationship which is great to see. He’s really keen to learn, he’s a really good kid and really competitive as well which is what you love to see in a young player. I have no doubt in the second half of the year that he’s going to do really well.”

Max Ramsden 

“We picked Max up in the mid-season draft and he’s had a good two-week training block. I’m really excited by what I see in a young player like him. He’s raw, he’s 202 centimetres who can run, he’s got a great tank. His follow-up work is really strong on the ground, so he’ll make his VFL debut after the bye which will be exciting for us to see. He is going to be a young, developing key forward/ruck, so we’re excited by his future.”