In brief
AFL matches: 6
Average disposals per game: 10.7
Goals: 1
VFL matches: 13
Average disposals per game: 13.8
Goals: 1
Review
WITH the retirement of fellow defender Brian Lake, Angus Litherland will hope 2016 is the year he can become a permanent fixture in Hawthorn’s senior side.
After a three-year wait for his AFL debut, Litherland broke through to 13 matches in 2014.
He played another six matches in 2015, but couldn’t establish himself as a regular in the Hawks’ strong defensive unit.
The 23-year-old impressed in his limited opportunities at AFL level, and was a strong contributor for VFL affiliate Box Hill Hawks.
Capable of playing tall or small, Litherland’s best AFL performance was arguably in Round 16 against Sydney Swans.
In tough conditions, Litherland – who was a late inclusion for Bradley Hill – collected 17 disposals and provided a conduit between defence and attack in a win against the Swans.
He also floated forward to kick his maiden AFL goal, triggering a momentum shift on the stroke of half time.
““For guys like myself and other guys in my position, just on the fringe of the side, (it’s about) playing well and being consistent at Box Hill – and Box Hill are winning which is good – so when we do get the call-up, whenever it comes, we’re ready to go,” Litherland said after that match.
Equally impressive in similar conditions against Gold Coast Suns in Round 9, Litherland’s strong senior record continued with a pair of wins against Carlton late in the season. He has now played in wins in 18 of his 19 senior matches.
At VFL level, the 192-centimetre defender was named in Box Hill’s best in five of his 13 matches, and was one of Box Hill’s better performers in their grand final defeat.
GM - Football Operations Chris Fagan says...
“He was a bit stiff in a sense, because we didn’t have a lot of injuries this year and our backline was pretty settled,” Fagan said
“Whenever he was asked to, he came into the team and did a good job.
“He wasn’t too far away – he was an emergency for a premiership team.
“He’s developed really nicely for the last four or five years, and I think he’s in a good spot now to challenge for a regular berth.
“There will be other guys who have been more permanent fixtures in our back end who will need to keep their form up, because he’s trying hard to go past them.”
In the news
VIDEO: Play Your Role - Litherland
