SECURING a spot in Hawthorn’s forward line is no easy task, but it’s one James Sicily will attack with confidence in 2016.
After making his AFL debut last year – and coming off a strong pre-season – the exciting 21-year-old is ready to give it his best shot.
That will start with next week’s NAB Challenge opener, for which Sicily hopes he can earn selection for and use as a building block for the season proper.
“The goal is to play NAB Challenge if I get an opportunity, and then try to take it with both hands,” he told hawthornfc.com.au this week.
“It’s funny, the pre-season’s gone really quickly. I think I’m a lot further ahead of where I was last year - this year I’ve felt a lot better out on the track and with my ability to back up each session.
“I want to play as many of those NAB Challenge games as possible and see how I go.”
With star forward and vice-captain Jarryd Roughead sidelined through injury – plus Matt Suckling’s departure and David Hale’s retirement – there’s bound to be an opportunity or two for a young marking forward to stake a claim for senior selection.
Sicily certainly put forward a strong case last year, kicking 30 goals from 16 matches at VFL level – including a bag of eight and two hauls of five – and showing some promising signs in his three senior matches.
But he knows there’s still plenty of work to do to lock down a spot.
“Playing at AFL level is what I want to be doing, and it was good to get those opportunities late in the year,” Sicily said.
“Even though I ended up being dropped out of the side before the finals, it was a massive confidence booster heading into the VFL finals.
“I didn’t finish off the year the way I would have liked in the VFL finals, but playing in the AFL and feeling comfortable at that level has definitely helped me this pre-season.”
“At the moment we’ve got some really good depth in our forward line.
“I’m going to be striving to put my hand up for selection to grab a spot, but if I don’t, I’m just going to have to work even harder to get it off whoever does.”
Sicily says he has entered this pre-season, his third at AFL level, a lot more comfortable within his own game.
He was one of a number of young players to impress assistant coach Cameron Bruce in Wednesday's match-play session, hitting the scoreboard on multiple occasions.
Building endurance has been a focus for Sicily this pre-season, as he tries to develop a tank which will enable him to play on a wing and offer some added versatility to the team.
The ability to play multiple positions has been a trademark of the Hawks’ success in recent years.
“I’m going into my third year, and I think the first two years you’re still in a bit of a learning stage,” he said.
“You’re learning the way the team plays and learning off your teammates and how they operate.
“I feel like I belong a lot more at the level now…. I feel like I can really come out of my shell and play my style of footy in a way that works within the team’s structure.”
