Pick 19: Ryan Burton
There was plenty of excitement from Hawthorn fans when Burton broke into the AFL side late in the season.
After breaking his leg at the end of 2014 and falling down the pecking order in draft calculations, Burton was taken by the Hawks with pick 19 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft after being talked up as a potential top-10 selection before his injury.
Having played forward in his first two games at AFL level, Burton was swung into defence, playing arguably his best game of 2016 against Collingwood in Round 23.
He also started brightly against Geelong in the Hawks’ qualifying final, before a calf injury sidelined him for the rest of the game and subsequently the rest of the season.
If Burton can get a full pre-season under his belt and remain healthy, there is no limit to what 2017 could hold for the 19-year-old.
Pick 22: Kieran Lovell
He may be small in stature, but Kieran Lovell is already drawing impressive comparisons after his first year at the Hawks.
Taken at pick 22 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, it was his ball-winning ability in contested situations which convinced Hawthorn to draft the Tasmanian.
His debut game against Greater Western Sydney was perhaps one to forget given Hawthorn was badly beaten, but his second game - where he collected 18 disposals in a winning effort against Richmond – was promising.
Two AFL games from a first-year player is an impressive return, and if he can continue to build his fitness and work closely with Hawthorn’s star midfielders, Lovell will be an important part of the Hawks’ plans going forward.
Pick 44: Blake Hardwick
Hardwick has earmarked himself as a player to watch over the next couple of years as he continues his development in the AFL system.
Having played most of the 2016 season with Box Hill at VFL level, Hardwick made his AFL debut in Round 19 after Cyril Rioli was a late withdrawal against Carlton.
He collected eight disposals and three tackles against the Blues in Launceston, and while they might not seem like huge numbers, it was a step in the right direction for the first-year player.
With another pre-season under his belt this will provide him with a legitimate claim of playing more senior football for Hawthorn in 2017.
Rookie selection pick 18: Luke Surman
Restricted by stress fractures in his back throughout his first six months as a Hawk, Surman made his long-awaited return to football in April this year.
The 197-centimetre South Australian, who can play at both ends of the ground and in the ruck managed games in both the development league and the VFL side this year.
The former basketballer is still only in his second year of playing football and will be given plenty of time to develop and learn the game.
Rookie selection pick 36: Kade Stewart
Taken at pick 36 in last year’s Rookie Draft, Stewart was very impressive in his first year at Hawthorn.
The skilful left-footer broke into the AFL side mid-year and played three games, impressing with not only his ability to hit the scoreboard, but also apply pressure.
Playing most of his season at Box Hill, Stewart was regularly among the goal kickers and finished with 16 goals and 77 tackles from 14 games.
Stewart was rewarded for an impressive 2016, elevated to the senior list at the end of the season.
Rookie selection (international) pick 62: Conor Glass
The Hawks signed Irishman Glass as an International Category B rookie at the end of the 2015 season.
Standing at 189 centimetres and boasting excellent skills on both sides of his body, Glass is a likely utility prospect for the Hawks.
He spent first half of season back in Ireland at school, but returned to Australia in July playing six games for Box Hill's development league including a premiership.
