After finding his way to the Hawks via Pick 46 in the 2016 Rookie Draft, the nerves of entering a senior football club for the first time are still fresh in James Cousins’ mind.
A number of promising young talents will likely experience the same butterflies over the weekend, with at least three new Hawks set to walk through the Ricoh Centre doors on Monday morning.
Entering a new work place and meeting 39 new teammates would be a daunting task, especially if you’re faced with players you’ve grown up idolising, but Cousins believes getting to work as quickly as possible will help to shake the nerves and earn respect
His advice for Hawthorn’s potential draftees?
“Just get straight into training, and try to prove yourself as best as you can in front of the playing group.
“It also helps if you try to find something in common with each of your teammates and just really try to grow those individual relationships.
Hawthorn’s first 2017 draftees will be revealed on tonight from 7pm at the NAB AFL Draft, with the Hawks holdings picks 43, 68, 73, 78 and 91.
The club will then complete its 2018 list at the Rookie Draft on November 27th, with final list lodgement to occur two days later.
