Drafted from: North Adelaide/PHOS Camden (SA)

DOB: 31/01/1997         

Height: 191cm                   

Weight: 90kg

HAWTHORN has recruited tall forward Ryan Burton with pick 19 in the 2015 NAB AFL draft. 

The talented tall forward, who did not play any football in 2015, joins the Hawks from North Adelaide.

At 191 centimetres and 90 kilograms, Burton has proven to be strong on the lead and reliable in front of goal.

He kicked five goals against Western Australia at under-18 level in 2014, before suffering a badly broken leg in August last year, which has kept him out of action since.

The 18-year-old is a NAB AFL Academy graduate who will bolster the Hawks’ key forward stocks.

AFL.com.au draft expert Callum Twomey says:

“Scroll through tapes of Burton's footy before his injury and you'll see why he was touted as such an early selection before the setback. He's a straight-kicking medium forward who can jump, twist and turn and mark really strongly on the lead. 

“It's easy to see Burton's footy smarts come to the fore when he plays: he knows how to nudge an opponent out of a contest, how to kick a dribbling, snapping goal, and when the game needs someone to grab the moment, he's not averse to taking it.

“Burton tested at the NAB AFL Draft Combine and did well given his circumstances, recording a 3.09-second 20-metre sprint and managing 25.69 seconds in the repeat sprint (better than about half the participants).

“If it all comes together for him, Burton could be one of the best players of this year's draft. He's confident and has some star factor.