When Fergus Greene makes his Hawthorn debut this weekend, he will become one of five Hawks in Sunday’s line-up to have come through the ranks of the club’s VFL affiliate of Box Hill.
The crafty goal-kicker joins a growing list of graduates from the Box Hill-Hawthorn connection, having joined the club at the end of last year after dominating at VFL level for the past two seasons.
Greene kicked 53 goals from 17 games in 2022 which saw him finish the VFL campaign as the second-leading goalkicker in the competition.
The exciting forward joins Jai Newcombe, James Blanck, Lachlan Bramble and Ned Reeves as the other current names to have been recruited by Hawthorn after serving time with Box Hill, taking the tally to 17 recruits through the alignment since its inception in 2000.
Touted as one of the most successful alliances in the industry, the partnership is the longest running and the one and only original VFL/AFL alignment which remains today.
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Reflecting further back, now Hawthorn Coach Sam Mitchell also once too made the jump from the affiliate VFL side.
After initially being overlooked in the 2000 draft, Mitchell was thrown a lifeline by Box Hill and shortly after became one of the reserves' best midfielders, before Hawthorn went on to draft him the following year with Pick 36.
Mitchell's resume went on to become rather impressive – premiership captain (2008-2010), four-time premiership player (2008, 2013-15), Brownlow Medalist (2012), a five-time Peter Crimmins Medallist (2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016) and a Rising Star Award (2003) – all of which stemmed from a second chance.
Following his successful playing career, Mitchell then entered the world of coaching at West Coast before returning to where it all began – you guessed it, Box Hill.
Mitchell has an eye for unearthing overlooked Box Hill players, having actively played a major role in recruiting several players from the program in recent years.
Newcombe burst onto the scene following a break-out year last year where he finished runner-up in the Peter Crimmins Medal while also earning the title of the AFL Coaches Association's Best Young Player.
Bramble has showed plenty of promise throughout his first two seasons at the club, playing both through the midfield and half-back, with his dash and polish a particular stand-out.
Blanck – who only arrived during last year’s mid-season draft – looks well poised beyond his nine career games.
The 22-year-old has already come up against some of biggest key forwards during his short time at Hawthorn and will continue to look more assured at AFL level with more games under his belt.
Mitchell will now be hoping that Greene will be the next to add to growing the list of success stories – and hidden gems – to have emerged from Box Hill when he begins his Hawthorn journey this Sunday at the MCG.
