JAMES Frawley can remember his most recent finals experience.
It was almost a decade ago, when the now 26-year-old last featured at the business end of a football season, playing for North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup.
“We went through the season undefeated, it was in 2006, and went out in straight sets in finals… it wasn’t the greatest memory,” Frawley told hawthornfc.com.au earlier this week.
“The first final we were up by six or seven goals at three quarter time and we got rolled, and then the next week we had a few injuries and couldn’t get the job done.”
While the end result for the Rebels didn’t go as Frawley had hoped, it was a big year for the then 17-year-old.
He was named in the TAC Cup Team of the Year on a half-back flank, before being selected by Melbourne with pick 12 in the 2006 AFL Draft.
However he hasn’t tasted finals action since then – and can’t wait to make his AFL Finals debut against West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium on Friday night.
The first-year Hawk, with 153 games of AFL experience under his belt, said he was “excited” rather than nervous about a finals debut.
“It’s the pointy end of the year and we’re getting a bit excited - especially for me, as I haven’t played in one (finals series) yet,” Frawley said.
“You can feel the change in the energy from the boys; it’s September, it’s springtime now, the sun’s coming out at training and it’s just an exciting time around the club.
“I haven’t played finals since I was a junior… (but) I’ve played 150 games now, so I’ll treat it like any other game.”
His teammates have made a few jokes, he says.
“Lewy (Jordan Lewis) asked me other other day, he said ‘how many finals have you played?’ and he actually didn’t know. I said zero and he kind of laughed at me,” Frawley joked.
Of all current AFL players, only Frawley's former Demons' teammate Lynden Dunn (161 games) has played more games without finals action.
The first-year Hawk hopes there will be plenty more finals to come.
After an interrupted first year in the brown and gold, Frawley is starting to find some consistency with his football.
He was subbed out with a pectoral injury in the first quarter of Hawthorn’s Round 2 match against Essendon, and was sidelined for four weeks. It was a similar scenario when the Hawks met the Bombers for the second time in Round 13, with Frawley injuring a shoulder, and again being sidelined for a month.
But now with a string of six consecutive games behind him, Frawley is confident he has a role to play for the Hawks throughout September – and hopefully October.
Whether that’s taking a key opposition forward – as he has done for the bulk of his career – or playing up forward, where he has kicked six goals in the past fortnight, Frawley doesn’t mind.
“I’m enjoying it (playing forward) – it’s a different role for me,” he said.
“I played a bit forward last year (for Melbourne) and that’s probably helped the last couple of weeks.”
The no-nonsense Hawk has provided his side with another strong, marking option up forward over the past fortnight.
But his goal celebrations are an area he acknowledges still needs improvement, after an errant effort against the Lions.
“It’s a bit of fun down there and you can celebrate a few goals – if you kick a few,” Frawley said.
“After the old Hilly high-five to the face, I thought I’d keep it pretty simple on the weekend and go with a little finger-point (celebration).”
With the Eagles boasting a bevy of tall forwards – including Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling – Frawley could be thrown back into defence for his first finals experience.
But after waiting so long for a taste of finals football, he just wants to play.
He’s happy to do “whatever the coaches need me to do”.
“It doesn’t worry me – whatever the team needs, I’m happy to put my hand up and play my role for the team,” Frawley said.
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