The stats
AFL games: 22
Disposals per game: 14
Marks: 2.2
Kicks: 7
Tackles: 4.5
Goals: 34
Review
The 2016 season was an excellent year for Puopolo, who played closer to goal and finished with a career-high 34 goals for the season.
With Hawthorn missing the goal kicking power of Jarryd Roughead, the dynamite small forward picked up some of the slack and provided the Hawks with an option both at ground level and in the air.
Puopolo has based his game on the immense pressure he applies when Hawthorn have the ball in their front half and he excelled in that area once again, laying 100 tackles for the season – the third consecutive year he has broken the 100-tackle barrier.
His reliability in front of goal was also a highlight, recording the 17th-best accuracy in front of goal across the league in 2016 with a return of 34.15 and a strike rate of 69.4%.
The three-time premiership player also provided his share of high-flying highlights, nominated for the Mark of the Year on three separate occasions.
Having signed a contract extension earlier in the year which will keep him at Waverley until the end of 2018, Hawthorn fans can expect to see more quality football from ‘Poppy’ going forward.
A word from: Brett Ratten
“Poppy is one of the shortest blokes on our team but he’s got so much power and energy.
“He’s renowned for his pressure and what he can do at ground level, but some of those marks he took this year where he flew for the ball and those clutch goals he kicked were terrific.
“Finished with 34 goals which is a great return for a small forward and played his part throughout the season.”
