HE’S already one of the best small forwards in the business, but Luke Breust is hoping he can add another dimension to his game by further developing his midfield skills.
Breust has kicked 40 or more goals in each of the past four seasons – including hauls of 57 and 52 respectively in 2014 and 2015 – and has already started 2016 in strong fashion with seven goals in two NAB Challenge matches.
But at the same time, Breust has one eye on the future and is looking at ways he can help the team get better – this year and beyond.
The midfield side of my game – continue to pick the brains of (Luke) Hodge, (Sam) Mitchell, (Jordan) Lewis and guys like that,” the 25-year-old said.
“(I want to) get my midfield game up to a better level, and then when they finish up their careers, hopefully I can take a bigger role in there.”
Breust believes it’s up to the likes of Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels, Paul Puopolo, Cyril Rioli and himself to lead that charge.
“It’s probably our responsibility to make sure that when they do finish up, we’re ready to continue to hold a good midfield and win that clearance battle,” he said.
It’s a been a big pre-season for the Hawks’ forward line, with vice-captain Jarryd Roughead ruled out for the first half of the season, but Breust is confident the group will be ready for the challenge come Round 1.
“After Roughy went down, we got together as a forward line and tried to sort of map out what we were going to do,” he said.
“What we pretty much came up with was things wouldn’t change too much, just hopefully we can get another younger guy in who can play a similar role to Roughy.
“Obviously Roughy’s a great player and some of the skills he brings to the game are outstanding, so he’s a very hard man to replace. But if we can get a younger guy to come in, compete and get the ball to ground or mark it himself, that’s all we need.”
Among those players are the likes of James Sicily and Tim O’Brien, while Breust suggests that key forwards Ryan Schoenmakers and Jack Gunston also have an opportunity to step up again in 2016.
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