Hawthorn's Jack Scrimshaw has labelled his upcoming 100-game milestone as 'surreal', with the talented defender to rack up his century representing the club he grew up supporting.

Scrimshaw was selected at pick 7 in the 2016 national draft by the Gold Coast Suns, where he began his AFL career. He played four games during his time with the Suns, before being traded to Hawthorn in 2018.

Six seasons later in the brown and gold, Scrimshaw will play his 100th game this weekend against Collingwood, in what shapes as a blockbuster showdown at the MCG.

Speaking to the Triple M Rush Hour, Scrimshaw shared some insight into the early days of his career and the move to the brown and gold, as well as the exciting brand of football that the Hawks are building.

“It’s pretty surreal to be honest,” Scrimshaw told Triple M.

“Obviously like grew up barracking for Hawthorn and got drafted to the Suns when I was 18 and then spent two years there and was able to come to Hawthorn.

“I have been able to play some footy and have grown as a player and a person.”

Scrimshaw’s road to the draft wasn’t an easy one, having an injury interrupted year as a bottom-age player.  

“My bottom-age year I was riddled with injury, didn’t really get out on the park too much and then top age year I was able to play a bit of Sandy (Sandringham Dragons), a bit of school footy and VIC Metro as well," he said.

Scrimshaw spent two years on the Gold Coast, before a new opportunity at Hawthorn came knocking.

“It was and I was sort of really underdeveloped as a young guy and it took me a few years to know what it takes to be an AFL player," he said.

“I just felt like the environment there at the time wasn’t right for me.

“And moving to Hawthorn, where they had some good players there when I first got to the club. Like Jarryd Roughead was still playing and Isaac Smith and obviously Luke Breust, Jack Gunston who are still there now, a lot of good mature heads around that could help me a little bit.”

Hawthorn was the ultimate landing place for the young defender, having supported the brown and gold all his life, and coincidently where Scrimshaw's uncle had been several decades ago.

“Yeah my Uncle Ian played, he only played about 20 games I reckon at Hawthorn but about 40 or 50 at Richmond. He’s a Richmond man, so we beat them the other week and I was happy to give it to him then,” Scrimshaw told Triple M.

“Dad loves it, he’s always loved Hawthorn. Obviously was on the list but didn’t quite make it, but yeah he loves the Hawks.”

Scrimshaw spoke to the Hawthorn players he most looked up when he was growing up and supporting the club.

“I loved Buddy (Lance Franklin), Hodgey (Luke Hodge), Cyril (Rioli), there were a few to choose from, they were a pretty stacked side," he said.

Now being led by another important figure in that same era, Sam Mitchell, Scrimshaw said the senior coach was the perfect fit for this talented young Hawks list.

“He’s been amazing, especially for me,” Scrimshaw said.

“He's a great relationship builder, and the boys are loving what he’s doing.

“He’s got different relationships with all players which is important and he’s obviously a great player and he hasn’t been out of the game for too long, so he sort of knows and can relate to how we’re feeling and what the modern game is sort of about.

“He tries to let everyone be themselves which is important and we’ve got a lot of characters at Hawthorn now and a lot of guys expressing themselves which is exciting to watch.”

After dropping the first five games in 2024, the young Hawks have won nine of their last 12. Scrimshaw says the catalyst was turning up the notch on the intensity at training.

“It’s been a big turnaround for us, obviously starting the year zero and five,” he said.

“We had a disappointing game against Gold Coast Suns up there and obviously they’re tough to beat.

“We had a very average game and we had to take a hard look at ourselves, and we’ve been able to make a bit of a change and it’s good, we’ve got a big game this weekend.

“I think it was publicised a bit around our training standards and maybe a few were sort of floating around and not training to the best of our abilities and we all sort of had a hard look at ourselves after that game, we wanted to change as a group and really address standards, little things that we wanted to work on.

“Ever since then we’ve been training strongly, and we’ve been playing like it as well.”

Scrimshaw’s milestone match comes in a big game for the Hawks as they take on the reigning premiers in Collingwood, as 13th v 12th go head-to-head.

“Yeah it is and we’re going to treat it as a final to be honest,” Scrimshaw said.

“It’s probably going to be the biggest game I’ve played in throughout my career, I’ve never played in a final.

“So hopefully there is a big crowd and we get that finals like atmosphere and it’s a good game.”

When asked about his dual role as an intercept marker and lock down defender, Scrimshaw said it’s something he’s had to balance as he's evolved his game, but it's a challenge he continues to embrace.

“Probably early on in my career, I was worried about getting the footy and being a high half back, but I’ve had to change my game over the last sort of couple of years and play more key,” he said.

“Just been told from Sam (Mitchell) to defend first and then if the balls up there and you can mark it, then go for it.

“I’ve been trying to get the balance right between hard on my man and rolling off as well.

“I like to think that (kicking) is a strength. I obviously like to spend a bit of time with Sis (James Sicily), he’s obviously a great kick as well so we like to work pretty well together in that space.”

The first bounce for this weekend's blockbuster clash between the Hawks and the Pies will take place from 4.35pm Saturday at the MCG.