ANY of Hawthorn’s three draftees could make an impact for Hawthorn in 2015 according to Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright.
Holding three picks in the 2014 National Draft, the Hawks welcomed Daniel Howe (pick 31), Teia Miles (pick 49) and Marc Pittonet (pick 50) on Thursday night at the Gold Coast Convention and Entertainment Centre.
Although the trio are joining a premiership list that has also just added free agent James Frawley and former number two draft pick Jonathan O’Rourke, Wright says he’s not willing to rule them out of calculations.
Like Billy Hartung, who joined the Club last year via pick 24 and made an impact this season and Cyril Rioli in 2008, who played every game including a premiership in his first year, Wright says any one of the trio could make an impact for the Hawks in 2015.
“I think all three can do that and what we always say to the boys is there is no ceiling on what they can do,” he told hawthornfc.com.au after the draft.
“Cyril Rioli played 25 games and won a premiership in his first year but then there’s Luke Lowden who had to wait six years.
“A lot of guys develop at different rates – it’s a little bit of a luxury we have that we’re able to let them develop how they need to rather than rushing them into the team.
“If they’re ready to play and their form is good enough and ‘Clarko’ and the coaches want to play them, they play but if they’re not ready, then they develop and work their way through.”
Following the departure of Lowden to Adelaide during October’s trade period, the Hawks bolstered its ruck stocks with 202cm Pittonet from the Oakleigh Chargers.
It means Pittonet will join fellow big men Ben McEvoy, David Hale and Jonathon Ceglar on the list, an area Wright said needed an addition.
Given Hale plays predominantly as a forward though, the Hawks recruiting boss said the selection of Pittonet was essential and the Hawks jumped at the opportunity to select him.
“We really see ‘Haley’ as being a forward/ruck not a ruck/forward so we don’t want to wear him out playing in the ruck,” he explained.
“That leaves us with ‘Cegs’ and Ben McEvoy but ruckman get injured and they get injured a lot – that’s why Luke (Lowden) was so important to us this year.
“(His departure) meant that we’re one short from a ruck point of view and we just don’t want to get into a year where we feel if we have injuries to potentially Ben and Cegs, then we’d be in a bit of trouble.
“We thought we’d go to the Rookie Draft for a ruck but when Marc was there, we thought he was a good enough player to come through and potentially push up in the next couple of years.”
Possessing an already star-studded midfield featuring the likes of best and fairest winner Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge as well as emerging stars like Liam Shiels, Isaac Smith and Bradley Hill, the Hawks also added a classy ball user in Howe.
Listed as a 191cm defender, Wright is confident Howe, who was taken at pick 31, will develop into a tall midfielder who’s known for his elite skills.
Howe was rated second overall at the draft combine for the kicking test.
“He played half back for Murray and also for Vic Country this year so we know he can play half back – he reads the ball well, has good courage, makes good decisions so we know he can do that but we saw him in the back half of the year go into the midfield and kick goals,” Wright said.
“He’s a really good stoppage player, great hands and great vision and awareness of what’s around him.
“I think body-wise he might start at half-back but there’s no doubt we see him playing mainly in the midfield.”
Overall, Wright is excited about bringing in what he believes to be three talented players who can make an impact next year.
“We’re rapt. Every club is the same, everyone is really pleased with what they’ve got in and we’re the same,” he said.
“Starting at pick 31 with Daniel Howe, Teia Miles at 49 and Marc Pittonet at 50, we feel as though we’ve got a tall midfielder, a small forward or back or even tagging midfielder and then a ruckman who we were keen to get in.”
