Hawks ruckman Ben McEvoy says the side’s two-zero opening to the 2018 season is a refreshing change after suffering a slow start last year.
McEvoy, who was one of the Hawks’ best in their Easter Monday win over Geelong, told RSN on Tuesday morning that while the Hawks hadn’t been reliant on early wins in previous seasons, the fast start was well and truly welcomed after losing five of their opening six rounds in 2017.
“We’ve never been reliant on it, we’ve always had an open mind that things can happen out of your control,” McEvoy said.
“(But) it’s really nice to get some reward for effort.
“We fought back so hard last year to make something of the season, and grew a lot as a team and a group.”
The dual premiership player said the team’s early-season form had also been exciting with the likes of Ben Stratton and Cyril Rioli returning after long lay-offs with injury last year as well as the continued development of some of the club’s rising stars.
“To have some of those experienced guys back in (is great),” McEvoy said.
“And the younger guys, like Sicily and Burton and Hardwick, they played a lot of footy last year and they’ve got a lot of confidence and we’ve got confidence in them.”
“So we’re just building and it’s really exciting.”
McEvoy is also in arguably career-best form himself, recording the equal-third most hit-outs of his career with 43 against the Cats, as he enters the prime of his career.
“I do feel really good at the minute and feel like week-in, week-out, I can get the job done,” he said.
“They say that ruckmen develop later and hit their prime a little bit closer to 30 than 20.
“I’m 28 now but certainly my body’s feeling good and I’m really enjoying my footy at the minute so hopefully it can keep carrying on.”
