At this stage of the pre-season, Hawthorn’s defence looks rather settled with the likes of Sam Frost and James Blanck playing in key posts around captain James Sicily and Blake Hardwick, alongside running defenders Changkuoth Jiath and Jarman Impey.

In 2022 we saw Sicily's return add poise and class to Hawthorn's back half as he produced a career-best year, while mid-season recruit Blanck found his feet as the season progressed.

So, what does 2023 now have in store for our backmen?

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Who to watch

Jarman Impey

Impey, who is set to enter his sixth campaign in the brown and gold, looks back to his prime after an injury-interrupted 2022 season. According to Assistant Coach Kade Simpson, the experienced head has had a "super pre-season" which has so far translated into impressive showings in Hawthorn's pre-season clashes. In the match simulation against Geelong, Hawks fans saw Impey back to his best, breaking the lines with his speed delivering the ball inside-50 and even kicking the first goal of the game. Having not played a full season since 2018, could 2023 be the year where we see Impey back at his consistent best?

James Blanck

After joining the Hawks through last year's mid-season draft, Blanck burst his way into the senior side in Round 15 for his AFL debut. The young key-position defender was immediately tasked with the tough jobs of shutting down some of the competition’s best forwards - a role he looks set to continue on in 2023. Standing at 196cm tall, Blanck has shown a strong ability to compete through the air, both to defend and intercept mark in his short time at Hawthorn so far. Having only been drafted during the year, Blanck remains a very raw talent and will be one to watch over the upcoming season off the back of his first full pre-season.

06:18

The Draftee Report Card: How Have They Been Tracking?

We check in with the assistant coaches to see how the new draftees have been tracking in the 2023 preseason.

Lachlan Bramble

Bramble took some big strides in his second year in the AFL, playing nine games in 2022. Playing in predominantly in defence, the 24-year-old looked increasingly comfortable at the top level as he averaged more than 15 disposals per game. However, sadly after a delayed start to the season, his campaign prematurely ended following Round 16 after suffering a stress fracture in his back. Now entering his third season, can Bramble take that next step towards launching himself into a household name in 2023? With his impressive speed, skills, and endurance, in the Geelong practice game provided Hawks fans glimpses of what he's capable of.

EVERY DEFENDER'S PRE-SEASON REVIEW

The break-out contender

Josh Weddle

When it comes to draftees around the competition, not many have made an immediate impact comparable to Josh Weddle in his first three months in the system. The 18-year-old has blown many away inside the club with his running capacity and competitiveness out of the gate. He won all four of Hawthorn's 1km time trials earlier this year in a performance that dazzled those inside the football department, following it up by pushing Changkuoth Jiath and Finn Maginness in the running across the pre-season. Weddle was recruited as a defender and has a frame ready to go for senior level – the general consensus at Hawthorn is he has the body of a third or fourth-year player – but has trained predominantly as a wingman across the summer. 

MILESTONE MEN: WHO'S SET FOR A MILESTONE IN 2023?

The returnee

Changkuoth Jiath

Jiath was pivotal to Hawthorn’s ball movement from the back half through his 14 games in season 2022. Averaging more than 18 disposals per game, the electric defender provided plenty of spark with his explosive pace and flair Hawthorn fans have grown to know and love. Sadly, injury meant a stop-and-start campaign for the 23-year-old, however with a now almost full pre-season under his belt - including some solid moments in defence in his first pre-season appearance against Collingwood - could we see some of his best footy yet to come?

04:55

Who Impressed in the Match Sim?

We're joined by the assistant coaches as they reveal who the stand outs were in the hit out against Geelong.

From the coach...

Assistant Coach Kade Simpson recently provide his player by player review of each Hawks defender's 2023 pre-season. You can read what he had to say HERE.

The big question…

Can James Sicily earn an All Australian blazer this year?

Coming off an ACL injury in 2022, many were skeptic of Sicily, and whether he could live up to his past performances, but boy, did he deliver. After an extended break to ensure his recovery from an ACL injury was as good as it could be, Sicily embarked on a season that far outweighed any other he had previously compiled. In a defence that was under constant threat, Sicily was cool, calm, and collected as he patrolled the defensive 50, taking on whatever role coach Sam Mitchell allocated to him. He finished the season as the club's best and fairest winner following a career-best campaign that saw him lead several stats across the competition. If Sicily is doing stuff like this again in 2023, does he stand a chance to captivate the All-Australian selectors this year? Surely the answer is yes. 

More 2023 AFL Season Guides: Full season preview  | Forwards | Midfielders