Taken with pick 46 in the Rookie Draft, James Cousins is a tough inside midfielder who had an excellent year with the Murray Bushrangers in 2016.
Standing at 185cm, Cousins was named on the interchange bench in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, after he averaged 24.3 disposals, 4.7 tackles and almost a goal a game.
Hawthorn Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright is a fan of Cousins' physicality, a key strength of the 185cm midfielder.
"James is a tough inside midfielder who had an excellent year with Murray Bushrangers.
"He's a high possession winner, good stoppage player and has excellent endurance," Wright explains.
Cousins will wear number 46 in his first year at the club.
We caught up with the new Hawk to find out how he's handling life at the Ricoh Centre.
Read: Which Hawks will celebrate playing milestones this year?
Q. How have you found pre-season so far?
A. It's obviously been really tough, a big step up to what I've done over the last few years. But it's been really enjoyable. Just been trying to work hard and improve as much as I can.
Q. Where are you looking to play this year?
A. I've been in the midfield groups so far this year, so I think that's where the club sees me at the moment.
Q. What are your strengths as a player?
A. My strengths are probably my ball-winning ability and my contested work, I guess.
Q. What are the areas that you are looking to improve this pre-season?
A. My fitness is one. Probably kicking as well, working on being able to kick both sides of the body.
Q. Is there anyone at training who you've tried to follow around and emulate?
A. I think more recently in the match-plays, I've been paying a lot of attention to what Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara have been doing. Especially Tom Mitchell, I have kind of admired him over the last couple of years.
Q. What's the best advice/instruction that you've had since arriving at the club?
A. My best advice has been to just ask questions. Make sure that if I don’t know anything, don’t be shy to ask. Don't try and go out on the track and do it by myself.
Q. What are your current living circumstances now you're with the Hawks?
A. Yeh, I'm living with a host family by myself at the moment.
Q. Any nicknames Hawks fans should be aware of?
A. Pretty straightforward stuff for my nicknames so far. Jim. Cuz. Cuzzo. That's about it.
Q. Do you have a celebrity crush?
A. Probably Mila Kunis.
Q. What are your hobbies outside of footy?
A. I like fishing. We have a boat at home and we live close to the lakes so that's good. Also like basketball and cricket. Then I have a dog as well back home who I like to spend as much time as I can with.
Q. What is your biggest fear?
A. Probably not living up to expectations that others have of me.
Q. What would you be doing if you didn’t get drafted?
A. Well I was in between a couple of jobs before being drafted. I was working at a gym, doing a bit of plastering and working at the supermarket so I'd probably be doing one of them I reckon.
Q. If you were a superhero, what would your name and superpower be?
A. Let's go with Birdman and I'd be able to fly!
