Jack Scrimshaw has begun his Hawthorn career in the best possible fashion, with the youngster selected to make his Hawks debut in the season opener against Adelaide.
Having crossed from the Gold Coast in last year’s trade period, the 20-year-old arrived at the Ricoh Centre determined to have an instant impact at the club he had ardently supported throughout his childhood.
“It’s a dream come true,” Scrimshaw said.
“I’ve obviously been following the Hawks for a long time so to be able to come out and play for them Round 1 is something very special.
“The hard work starts now so hopefully I can cement my spot and then go from there.”
Standing at 193cm tall and possessing a left-foot with pinpoint accuracy, Scrimshaw had the discernible tools to become a regular senior player at the Suns but ultimately managed just four senior games across his two seasons.
The number seven pick in the 2016 draft, Scrimshaw has now completed an outstanding pre-season, forcing Alastair Clarkson’s hand into picking him in Round 1.
Playing predominantly across the half-back line, he won 12 disposals in the opening term against Richmond in the clubs' JLT Community Series finale before finishing with 18 touches.
Scrimshaw admitted when he arrived at the club, he was unsure how quickly he would be able to break into the senior side.
“Probably when I first rocked up, I didn’t think I’d be playing this early.
“But, as the pre-season went on, I started to get a bit more confidence and that realisation was there.
“I just tried to work as hard as I could and put my best foot forward.”
Captain Ben Stratton commended Scrimshaw on his ability to quickly acclimatise with his new teammates.
"He's had no issue fitting in from a character point of view – the boys love him that way," Hawthorn captain Ben Stratton told AFL.com.au last week.
"The sooner you can morph someone into your system and get them playing the way you want them to, the better - that's a credit to our leaders and coaches.”
Stratton admitted there were some initial questions surrounding Scrimshaw before his arrival that have since been completely dismissed by the Hawthorn playing group.
"There probably were doubts on his training … but he's shown the last two weeks what he can do (in the JLT series) - he's impressed and surprised a lot of people.
"I'd be more than happy to have him down back with me, because he's similar to a Birchall - lovely kick, reads the play well.
“He's coming along well."
