We may not be entering Thursday’s draft until Pick 53, but Hawks fans should rest assured that we’ve had plenty of success at that stage of the draft and beyond in the past.
Here’s a look at the top three talents we’ve selected beyond Pick 50 over the years.
Ben Dixon
Drafted in 1994 with Pick 77
Not much was expected of Ben Dixon when he was taken with the 77th Pick in the 1994 Draft. In fact it wasn’t until his third season at the club that he made his AFL debut. Showing signs of talent throughout that year, Dixon truly blossomed the following season in 1998 when he booted 36 goals including a career-high bag of six against West Coast in Round 12. This spring-boarded Dixon into the career he would have, as he finished with 203 games and 282 goals to his name. He currently sits 14th all-time for goals kicked for the Hawks.
Richie Vandenberg
Drafted in 1997 with Pick 78
Drafted at the age of 20, Richie Vandenberg had a delayed start to his AFL career. But, debuting in his first year, Vandenberg attacked his career with a characteristic aggression and desire from there on. Coinciding with the start of Alastair Clarkson’s reign in 2005, Vandenberg was appointed club captain, a position he held for the next three seasons. A strongly admired presence around the club, the midfielder played 145 games over a 10-year career.
Paul Puopolo
Drafted in 2010 with Pick 66
Paul Puopolo has flourished into one of the fan favourites of Hawthorn since being taken in the 2010 draft. Another mature-age recruit, Poppy made an instant impact at the Hawks and has been a consistent and durable player since. The small forward was a valuable member of the Hawks’ 2013, 2014 and 2015 premiership side. Puopolo has managed more than a goal per outing over his 168-game career to date, but it is the intangibility of his pressure and presence that has been of the greatest value to the Hawks.
