Kyle Cheney, Taylor Duryea, Mitch Hallahan, Will Langford and Angus Litherland have all agreed to terms and will represent Hawthorn in season 2013.
General Manager - Football Operations, Mark Evans says the signings ensure the Hawks have a strong list, with the depth of talent necessary to again to be a top four side.
“You don’t finish towards the top end of the ladder without having a really strong list of players to choose from,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“You have to be continually mindful that you’ve got enough younger players also pushing through to be putting pressure on that group.”
While Cheney is the only player with AFL experience amongst the group, Evans admits each player is ready to step up and take their game to the next level.
With that in mind, he believes a healthy pressure for spots amongst the group will eventuate, putting the Hawks in a strong position.
“A whole range of these guys have been in the system now for a few years and are ready to go,” he said.
“They are waiting for an opportunity and they are probably prepared to knock the door down to make sure that opportunity comes their way.
“That’s the pressure that you need, these guys are well and truly ready for the next step up.”
The work for the quintet will begin when Hawks players return to begin pre-season training at the end of November.
“It’s not a matter of them sitting back and taking it all for granted and just waiting for an opportunity to be gifted to them,” Evans said.
“These guys are well aware that they’re close to the level and you’ll see them across this summer work as hard as they can to try and put their name forward strongly.
“The challenge for them is to find a way, to force a way through good form, good fitness and what you bring to the team and to the Club.”
But Evans admits these young players will have no issues in forcing out their senior counterparts if it means they’ll get the chance to impress Coach, Alastair Clarkson.
“If that means displacing a teammate, then that’s what they’ll do,” he said.
“That’s the internal pressure you need from the system to be able to have success at the end of the year, you need a pretty strong list.”
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