HAWTHORN debutant Luke Lowden is trying to contain his excitement for the moment in which he’s been waiting for five years, his AFL debut.
Drafted by the Hawks in 2008, Lowden has endured a long apprenticeship but after impressive and consistent performances with Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate Box Hill this year, he will finally get his opportunity on Saturday at Aurora Stadium.
Lowden was told by interim senior coach Brendon Bolton in a team meeting on Thursday, before he made an emotional phone call to his mum to inform her of the news.
The 204cm ruckman will become the sixth Hawk to make his debut in 2014, joining Derick Wanganeen, Tim O’Brien, Angus Litherland, Mitch Hallahan and Billy Hartung.
But Lowden has had to wait longer than all of them after battling injury in his first two seasons with the Hawks before finally developing into a ruckman ready to ply his trade in the AFL.
Naturally, he can’t hide his excitement at finally getting the opportunity he has worked so hard for.
“It’s really, really exciting, I’m just trying to contain it at the moment because there’s still a couple of days to go until the game but I’m pretty pumped,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“I’ve been on the list for a few years – I had a lot of injuries in my first few years but to finally get the reward this weekend makes it all really worth it.
“I feel like I deserve my opportunity this weekend and hopefully I can do Hawthorn Football Club proud and the supporters and my family and all my teammates as coaches as well.”
Luke Lowden at the Ricoh Centre.
Lowden’s inclusion comes after a string of impressive performances in the VFL, including his best on ground performance against Coburg on the ANZAC weekend.
The Hawks’ ruckman was awarded the medal as the dominant player on the ground with 24 hit outs, 17 possessions, eight marks and two goals.
He won praise from former Box Hill premiership coach Damian Caroll, someone Lowden says has an a profound impact on his development.
“I played in the VFL Grand Final last year under him – he’s just an amazing bloke and amazing coach,” Lowden said.
“A lot of the other coaching staff have really supported me as well and always tried to help me improve.
“It has been a bit of everyone to get me into this position, which makes me feel really good.”
It has been the close work too, with Ruck Coach Damian Monkhorst behind his rise this year, combined with an injury-free pre-season that has allowed his to build a strong base for the year.
“I did about 95 per cent of the pre-season – it’s sounds so mundane that when you do a good pre-season, you have a better season but it really is true,” Lowden said.
“I was able to do a fair bit of it and worked a lot with Damian Monkhorst, doing a lot of one-on-one stuff.
“I feel like that had held me in really good stead for the season because I’ve gradually improved.”
That hard work has paid off this year, with Lowden for the first time in his career able to achieve consistency in his performances.
“I’ve managed to play some good footy, I think consistency has been the key week-to-week because probably in the past it has been a little bit down.
“This year I’ve been able to play most of the games and there’s been some reward there.”
Lowden will come into the Hawthorn side to replace injured ruckman David Hale (corked quad) and will partner teammates Jonathon Ceglar in the ruck, with Ben McEvoy also out injured (corked hamstring).
It is a baptism of fire for the 23-year-old, who’ll come up against West Coast duo Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.
But Lowden isn’t fazed by the task ahead, rather viewing it as an opportunity to show what he can produce without getting carried away.
“It’s an exciting opportunity. ‘Ceggsy’ (Jonathon Ceglar) and I will hopefully do everyone proud when we go out there and perform,” he said.
“It’s going to be a really good battle, I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“There’s not going to be anything special this weekend, I just want to go out there and perform my role.
“It sounds mundane again but I really just want to go out there and contribute to the side and play my role and hopefully get a win.”
As for the moment he runs out with his teammates in his first AFL game, he just can’t wait.
“I’m just going to try and enjoy the moment because it’s going to be an incredible experience,” Lowden said.
“I really, really can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome.”
