Ricky Henderson
Games: 11
Disposal average: 26.9
Best performance: R5 v Geelong – 33 possessions, 10 marks, five inside 50s, two goals
A picture of a consistency in a side that is yet to record consecutive victories, Ricky Henderson has not put a foot wrong in 2019. Hawthorn’s most influential player this year, Henderson’s 26.9 disposal average is a clear career-high, with the 30-year-old sitting inside the league’s top 20 for disposals accumulated. The former Crow also sits fifth in the competition for marks and sixth for uncontested possessions, highlighting the work ethic he has approached this year with.
James Worpel
Games: 11
Disposal average: 24.7
Best performance: R1 v Adelaide – 27 possessions, eight inside 50s, five clearances, two goals
Alastair Clarkson couldn’t have asked for much more from James Worpel in the first half of just his second season in the AFL system. Worpel has come along in leaps and bounds in 2019, having gathered more contested possessions than any other Hawk as well as the second-most clearances on the list. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the 20-year-old’s year to date has been his consistency – he is yet to fall below 20 disposals in any of his 11 appearances and has missed out on double-digit contested ball numbers just twice. The number five will be looking to carry on with similar form in the second half of the year.
Jaeger O’Meara
Games: 10
Disposal average: 26.1
Best performance: R6 v Carlton – 42 possessions, eight marks, nine clearances, six inside 50s
Another of the shining lights for the brown and gold in 2019, Jaeger O’Meara has been a delight to watch this season. Playing 10 of 11 games, O’Meara has strung together some strong form, with his injury concerns seemingly behind him. Kicking seven goals from his 10 outings, so much of his potency comes from his ability to power out of the stoppage and hit the scoreboard. Ranking 12th league-wide for his average of 6.4 clearances, the 25-year-old has also been highly impactful on the defensive end, rating 8th for his 6.4 tackles per game.
Tom Scully
Games: 10
Disposal average: 19.8
Best performance: R4 v St Kilda – 26 possessions, three marks (three contested), five inside 50s, two goals
Tom Scully thrilled the Hawthorn faithful when it was announced he would make his brown and gold debut in Round 2 against the Western Bulldogs. Upon his arrival at the club, few were sure what to make of if and when Scully would pull on a Hawks jumper. But, since the Dogs game, the former Giant hasn’t missed a beat, playing in each of the following 10 games. His impact has been obvious, averaging 19.8 touches and booting seven goals on the year, his running ability has simply been too hard to stop on numerous occasions already.
James Cousins
Games: 10
Disposal average: 18.7
Best performance: R8 v GWS – 25 possessions, 11 marks, three clearances, one goal
Another midfielder who has risen to the challenge this year, James Cousins has not only proven to be a capable ball-winner but also a goal-kicking threat. Booting eight majors from his 10 appearances and averaging 3.7 inside 50s per game, Cousins has done a lot of his damage in the forward half of the ground. With 17 senior games now under his belt, fans can expect the 21-year-old to go to another level again in the back half of the season.
Liam Shiels
Games: 8
Disposal average: 21.7
Best performance: R6 v Carlton – 26 possessions, seven marks, nine tackles, six clearances, three goals
Since returning from a three-week injury lay-off between Rounds 3 to 5, Shiels has been one of the Hawks’ most consistent performers, averaging 24 touches, 6.7 tackles, 4.5 clearances and just shy of a goal per game. All things going well, Shiels will play his 200th game against Geelong in Round 18. The midfielder’s experience over his 11 seasons will continue to be a valuable resource through the final stages of 2019.
Isaac Smith
Games: 8
Disposal average: 20.8
Best performance: R3 v North Melbourne – 22 possessions, eight marks, four inside 50s, four clearances, one goal
Isaac Smith has been a reliable source of offensive production in his eight games so far this year. In every outing, he has recorded between 19 and 22 possessions per game whilst notching rebound and inside 50s reliably. The wingman missed three games between Rounds 8 to 10 with a foot injury, but thankfully returned for the Hawks’ last game before the bye. The 30-year-old’s running game remains as strong as ever, with his 1.4 bounces per game good for the 11th-best average in the league.
Ben McEvoy
Games: 9
Disposal average: 14.3
Best performance: R1 v Adelaide – 18 possessions, eight marks (five contested), 23 hit-outs, two goals
Without doubt one of the most influential Hawks in the opening two months of the season, McEvoy was in the conversation of the top ruckmen in the league after an outstanding start to 2019. The 29-year-old was running at a career-high 15.3 disposals, 31.6 hit-outs and just shy of three contested marks per game. His power in the air as well as his ability to hit the scoreboard, having already had three games of two-goal output, has been missed by the Hawks in his recent three-game absence. But the club will be hopeful of regaining Big Boy not long after the bye.
Harry Morrison
Games: 8
Disposal average: 13.6
Best performance: R4 v St Kilda – 18 possessions, four tackles, four inside 50s, four clearances
It’s difficult to get a read on what to make of Harry Morrison’s 2019 campaign so far. Morrison featured in the opening five games of the year, with strong performances in Rounds 1 and 4 surrounded by three other games of 10 possessions or less. After the Easter Monday clash, Morrison was left out of the senior side for the first time in 12 months. But, on the back of strong VFL form, the 20-year-old was brought back into the side. He played the next three matches before being left out of the side for its trip north last week. Needless to say, Morrison, who has proved he is more than capable at AFL level, will be hoping for greater consistency in the back half of the year.
Jon Ceglar
Games: 11
Disposal average: 23.5
Best performance: R4 v St Kilda – 28 possessions, 10 marks (three contested), 10 rebound 50s
Another man who was sent back to the VFL to build confidence after the opening month, Jon Ceglar has since returned to the senior side in fine style. Ceglar has averaged 16.8 possessions, three contested marks, 3.5 clearances and just shy of a goal per game over the past month. With the injury to his ruck pal Ben McEvoy, the 28-year-old has acknowledged the greater responsibility placed upon him and risen to the challenge. With McEvoy set to return to the line-up not long after the bye, the Hawks will be eager for Ceglar to maintain these high standards.
Daniel Howe
Games: 4
Disposal average: 18.3
Best performance: R4 v St Kilda – 23 possessions, four marks, four tackles, four clearances
Daniel Howe is yet to have a clean run at it in 2019. With an injury cloud hovering over him to start the season, his introduction to the senior team was delayed. Howe finally got the call-up in Round 4 against St Kilda, where he had an instant impact playing in the midfield. But, in the following three weeks, his performances drifted slightly to the point where he has been left out of the 22 since Round 7. A consistent contributor for Box Hill, Howe is always thereabouts at the selection table. The 23-year-old has an important remainder of the season ahead of him.
Marc Pittonet
Games: 2
Disposal average: 9.5
Best performance: R10 v Port Adelaide – 8 possessions, 29 hit-outs, four tackles, seven one-percenters
Pittonet got his first AFL opportunity this year as a late replacement for Mitch Lewis in Round 10. The ruckman had been solid for Box Hill in the early parts of the season, continuing to build his reputation as one of the premier big men in the state league. His physicality was again on show against Port Adelaide where, in addition to his 29 hit-outs, he also recorded four tackles and seven one-percenters.
