FOR Hawthorn Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright, the 2015 NAB AFL Draft was a case of mission accomplished.

The Hawks entered the draft with three live picks – 15, 18 and 48 – which turned into picks 19, 22 and 44 as the draft played out.

With those picks, the Hawks recruited South Australian forward Ryan Burton, Tasmanian midfielder Kieran Lovell and Victorian sharpshooter Blake Hardwick.

“We’re really happy, we (started with) two picks inside 20 and we think we’ve got two good players there and we’re really happy to get Blake through as our last pick,” Wright said.

The Hawks’ recruiting boss said he was surprised Burton, who has not played for 15 months after breaking his leg last year, made it through to pick 19.

“Getting Ryan Burton with our first pick was a little bit of a surprise for us, that Ryan was there at that pick (19),” he said.

“From a medical point of view he had the tick off. He obviously hasn’t played AFL footy for 15 months, so it’s a slight risk in that, but from our point of view we were rapt he was available for us.”

Lovell, a prolific ball winner, joined the Hawks with pick 22.

“Kieran’s been fantastic, he’s had an outstanding year,” Wright said,

“He’s averaged 34 to 35 possessions (per game) in the TAC Cup and the national championships at division two level.

“He’s got great lateral movement, really quick, a big tank. He’s only 174 centimetres, but he’s a bit of a pocket dynamo and we’re excited to get him to our club.”

Eastern Ranges product Blake Hardwick – the TAC Cup’s leading goalkicker in 2015 – was the Hawks’ third selection, at number 44.

“Blake slipped a little bit (down the draft order) from our perspective, and he’s another guy that we were happy to get through at that pick, mainly because he’s ready to go right now,” Wright said.