Jack Scrimshaw's moment of truth in brown and gold arrived earlier than expected.

The 20-year-old former Sun joined a batch of fellow fresh and relatively new Hawks, including dual All Australian Chad Wingard, in trekking the Kokoda Trail in late November.

The trip is designed not only to forge a closer bond between the group and teach them about Australia's history, but also to test them physically and mentally.

Scrimshaw found out the hard way, falling ill during the gruelling slog – and still with many days of walking ahead of him.

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It is a fascinating scenario to reflect on now, given the 2016 top-10 draft pick's resilience and appetite for hard work were questioned, fairly or not, in a difficult two years at Gold Coast.

This was Scrimshaw's chance to grease the wheels of change, and he grasped it.

"It really impressed the coaches, and that was the making of him for the rest of the pre-season," Scrimshaw's manager Robbie D'Orazio, of Connors Sports, told AFL.com.au.

"If he had pulled out, everyone would have gone 'No drama' – it wouldn't have been frowned upon – but he found a way to get through it and maybe he wouldn't have beforehand."

Those close to the talented-but-introverted Scrimshaw are adamant he was always a hard worker and, perhaps, wasn't embraced or understood well enough at the Suns.

Others tell a different story.

Either way, this one-time Gold Coast outcast is on the verge of an instant debut for finals contender Hawthorn against Adelaide on Saturday.

If that doesn't eventuate, it is unlikely to be far off for.

Scrimshaw made a good impression even before he won 12 disposals in the opening term against Richmond in the clubs' JLT Community Series finale two Saturday nights ago.

The four-gamer added only six more touches after quarter-time, so there is still work to be done, as coach Alastair Clarkson highlighted this week, but it was an eye-catching effort.

Among the areas Scrimshaw needs to improve, according to Clarkson, are his conditioning, durability and consistency throughout matches, but more senior football exposure would help as well.

His horror injury run across the past four years, dating to his pre-AFL career, includes hip surgery, a serious foot problem, a fractured cheekbone and a bout of concussion.

"He's had a good summer. He's a Sandringham boy who got drafted to the Gold Coast and there are some kids who it doesn't suit to go interstate and I reckon he was one," Clarkson told SEN radio station.

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"He had things going on, family wise, and it made it really hard for him to settle.

"He just needed to be back in Melbourne – and both he and Gold Coast recognised that – and we were fortunate enough to be the ones who were prepared to take a shot with him."

Scrimshaw, who grew up idolising the Hawks, looked likely to leave from mid-season last year once it became obvious the Suns had shuffled him down the pecking order.

It is understood the left-footer met with Carlton a long way out from the NAB AFL Trade Period, but Hawthorn proved the keenest suitor.

"The Hawks were the ones. We spoke throughout the year and they watched him closely and they pulled the trigger," D'Orazio said.

"He's got strong personalities and leaders at the Hawks who have helped him along the way."

The education process continued once they resumed, with the 2013 Coleman medallist particularly vocal in his instruction and praise for Scrimshaw. 

"That's a credit to our leaders and coaches. The sooner you can morph someone into your system and get them playing the way you want them to, the better," Hawthorn captain Ben Stratton told AFL.com.au.

"He's had no issue fitting in from a character point of view – the boys love him that way.

"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."

Those initial doubts Stratton speaks of were enough for Jaeger O'Meara, a former Sun himself, to reach out to some of his Gold Coast contacts to get the lowdown on Scrimshaw.

O'Meara now speaks glowingly of Scrimshaw's playing performances, dubbing him "a tough little bugger".