Family ties to Hawthorn were strengthened considerably at last week’s national draft.
At Pick 13, the Hawks’ earliest pick since 2006, the club welcomed Will Day to the brown and gold.
The Day household erupted in South Australia, with Will’s grandpa Robert Day, a 1971 premiership Hawk, shedding a tear
“He was lost for words initially,” Day said during his first press conference on Monday afternoon.
“I think, when we do end up playing, it’ll make it that bit more special knowing that we’ve got a few links to the club.”
Fortunately for Day, his anxious wait to find a new home lasted only 40 minutes or so into proceedings.
Father-son recruit Finn Maginness was forced to be slightly more patient, with his name read out 16 picks and 24 hours later.
Finn’s father Scott played 131 games for the Hawks and won a premiership with the club in 1989.
For 18-year-old Maginness, despite receiving assurances from Hawthorn National Recruiting Manager Mark McKenzie prior to the second night of the draft, there was still a level of unease.
“Macca called me during the day and he said they’ll match any bid that came that night so I was confident,” Maginness said.
“But still, when the Kangaroos bid on me, I did get a bit nervous because I wanted to come to Hawthorn.
“The Hawks actually took a while to match it too so the longer it got, the more nervous I got.”
Day, Maginness and fellow draftees Josh Morris, Emerson Jeka, Michael Hartley and Harry Pepper round out Hawthorn’s 2020 list. The six players hit the ground running, showing their wares in front of their new teammates at their first training session on Monday morning.
