Ben McEvoy is confident he can continue the form that saw him enjoy a career-best year in 2017.
The ruckman averaged a career-high 32.4 hit-outs over his 22 games and finished second in the Peter Crimmins Medal count behind All Australian teammate Tom Mitchell.
Entering his fifth season as a Hawk, McEvoy attributes his outstanding campaign to his positioning around the ground and ability to affect the game in the air.
“That’s always been probably the biggest strength of my game, but I haven’t always been able to capitalise on it,” the 28-year old told RSN Breakfast Radio on Monday.
“But I think I was certainly able to do that last year and when I’m playing my best I think I’m getting my hands on it in marking contests around the ground."
McEvoy made his first appearance of 2018 on Saturday in the Hawks opening JLT Series clash against the Western Bulldogs.
After enduring a minor hamstring injury in December, the former Saint said it was good to get some match fitness out of the game, played at Mars Stadium in Ballarat.
“There’s the physical preparation, to have a hit-out and get used to the physical contact again.
“And then there’s obviously the football side of it, trying to build chemistry with each other and try and implement some of the things that we’ve been working on over the summer”.
Read: Mitchell draws on the positives
The 168-game player shared the ruck duties with 21-year old Marc Pittonet, who has three games of senior experience to his name.
McEvoy says he is comfortable spending time in the forward line, which would open the door for the Hawks to potentially play two ruckmen if coach Alastair Clarkson saw fit.
“We’ve always kept pretty open-minded about that, and about whether I play in the ruck or need to go up forward at times.
“It was good to get ‘Pitto’ some exposure on the weekend.
“He didn’t get a crack at it last year but he has had a really good summer and it was good for him to get a bit of a run around”.
McEvoy excitement was evident as he spoke about the young talent that had been recruited to the Hawks in order to propel the club back into premiership contention.
“(Jaeger) O’Meara’s workrate and his attitude to just go and hunt the ball, I’m really excited to play with and he should be a really good asset for us this year.
“(Jarman) Impey has excited me too.
“He has a bit of flair, he is certainly quick and he has slotted straight in, so I can’t wait to have him out there with us as well”.
