We spoke to Hawthorn’s Elite Performance Manager Andrew Russell to find out which of our Hawks have stepped up their game across the course of the pre-season.

Name: Jonathan O’Rourke
Age: 22
Guernsey: 13
Senior games (2016): 7
Senior games (career): 18

Entering his fifth year in the AFL system, Jonathan O’Rourke has worked hard to place himself firmly in the sights of the coaching staff with the start of the season quickly approaching.

After a year in 2016, which saw the young midfielder play seven games in the senior side, his effort to become a more regular senior player has been noticed by Andrew Russell.

“He’s been looking really dynamic around stoppages and around the ball.
 
“He’s been really confident with his ball use, and it seems like he’s gone to a whole new level with his football,” Russell said.

Head of Coaching and Development Damian Carroll noted at the end of last season that there were certainly moments where O’Rourke showed he could be a valuable addition to the Hawthorn midfield.

“We saw glimpses of Jono’s skill set, speed and endurance and we’re just looking for more when he continues to get opportunities at our footy club to be both an inside and outside midfielder and to impact the contest more consistently throughout games,” Carroll said.

With consistency being an area the coaching staff wanted to see O’Rourke improve, his third-placing in the pre-Christmas time trial and a further personal best in the 2.2km event held in January would have undoubtedly impressed.

Read: Ten Top Improvers: Shiels