In brief
AFL matches: 18
Disposals per game: 12.9
Marks per game: 4.9
Goals: 6
VFL matches: 1
Review
JAMES Frawley joined the Hawks to taste team success.
It took him just a year.
The former Demon enjoyed a brilliant 2015 finals series, capped off with a superb grand final performance in which he held Coleman Medallist Josh Kennedy goalless.
With a premiership medal around his neck, Frawley’s first season as a Hawk was a resounding success.
The key defender played 18 games in 2015, missing two blocks of four matches through injury.
In Round 2, Frawley missed a four-week block with a pectoral injury, and returned to play the next six matches before injuring his shoulder.
Round 7 saw Frawley line-up against his former side in a big win, and he produced a stellar defensive performance a week later to keep Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin goalless.
After another month on the sidelines, the 27-year-old returned to the senior side in Round 18 against Richmond and played every match from then on.
He played his 150th match against Geelong in Round 19, before showing his versatility late in the season, spending time in a key forward role as well as in defence.
In Round 22 and 23, against Brisbane Lions and Carlton, he enjoyed consecutive three-goal hauls.
Frawley spent time at both ends in the Hawks’ qualifying final defeat against West Coast Eagles - his first finals appearance - before returning to his customary key defensive post for the remainder of the year.
In the final three matches of 2015, Frawley produced his best football for the Hawks.
He kept Adelaide Crows skipper Taylor Walker to one goal in the semi final, and Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich to a solitary major in the preliminary final.
His effort in the grand final against Eagle Kennedy – where he also finished with 22 disposals and 11 marks – was exactly why the Hawks were determined to sign the free agent at the end of 2014.
GM - Football Operations Chris Fagan says...
“James saved his best till last,” Fagan said.
“In his last three finals games, he held Taylor Walker, Matt Pavlich and Josh Kennedy to a combined total of two goals, and they performed below average in those games due to the great work he did.
“It really justified his decision to come to Hawthorn, and the work Graham Wright and the recruiting team put in to get him to the club.
“It’s really pleasing that for a guy who hadn’t had the opportunity to experience too much team success – that’s the reason he came here – he got that and he was probably the happiest bloke in the rooms on grand final night.
“He’s established himself in the group now and he’s going to be a massively important player with Lakey retiring.”
In the news
VIDEO: Speed Dating With Spangher: Frawley
NEWS: Frawley ready for finals football
NEWS: James Frawley plays game 150
NEWS: How Frawley shut down Kennedy
VIDEO: Then and now: James Frawley
