A certain restless tension pervaded the room in the lead-up to the Hawks’ first selection of the 2018 national draft.

Having traded for Chad Wingard a month earlier, the club’s first pick was not to arrive until Pick 52 and, given the draft was split across two nights that year, a certain level of patience was required from all.

The recruiting team watched on as numerous names of interest found new homes that weren’t brown and gold.

But one name continued to stick around, remaining on the club’s draft board right until the moment the Hawks could have their first impact of the draft.

“With Pick 52, Hawthorn selects Jacob Koschitzke.”

Relief.

Five youngsters with game-high stats against North

The team was satisfied, the club’s website instantly boasting a “swingman from the Murray Bushrangers rated among the best key position prospects in the draft”.

One year down the track, a series of hip and shoulder injuries as well as a concussion had prevented Koschitzke from making much of an impression in his debut season.

But, standing at 196cm, weighing in at 96kgs and possessing an abundance of athletic attributes, no one was dismissing the obvious potential of the Albury native.

His second season in the system was again impacted by injury after having to undergo shoulder surgery following a collision in an intraclub.

He worked hard to get back… but then COVID happened.

Koschitzke’s 2020 season wasn’t unique in the way it was influenced by the global pandemic, but there was a shining light to his campaign that may not have been shed had it not been for the unprecedented nature of the season.

The reserves scratch matches were a motley collection of outings obstructed by limited numbers, venue difficulties and challenging protocols - among other things.

Pup pens a letter to members ahead of Round 1

Guys like Koschitzke were thrown around from defence to forward, and maybe even to pinch hit in the ruck from time to time.

The feedback on Kosi the defender throughout these games was positive, without being glowing, with a query on his ball-winning ability as he returned games of three and four disposal counts.

But the aforementioned shining light from his efforts came in his time up forward.

A notable presence with some strong contested marks and straight kicking for goal, a glimpse of a potentially fruitful sea change.  

The off-season that ensued saw Koschitzke survive the vicious list squeeze, with the Hawks coaching department buoyed by those signs seen in the latter stages of their time in the Adelaide hub.

Day one of pre-season and Koschitzke slotted into training as a forward.

The shift was now official.

Throughout the summer, all of the known qualities of his game continued to thrive – the running power, the strength, the physicality.

But there was a new-found focus to his training – an increased desire.

The famous footy adage “the harder you train, the luckier you get” seemed incredibly apparent.

Come the club’s first ‘official’ hit-out against North Melbourne on the weekend, Koschitzke’s selection was a no-brainer.

That, in itself, was a major step.

Across his two seasons at the club to date, the 20-year-old is yet to make his senior debut and has only been named an emergency on one occasion – in Round 16 last year when the club’s medical room was more busy than Flinders St Station at 5pm.

Now, he had his chance… and, boy, did he take it.

Six goals, three behinds, 12 disposals, six marks and 10 score involvements.

It was a performance that has made his intentions very clear with Round 1 just around the corner.

While fans should be wary of placing too much pressure on the key forward, the Hawks 2021 campaign is set to be littered with stories like Koschitzke’s – youngsters who have identified their opportunity and pounced.

The brown and gold faithful should be rapt about the explosion of a pounce this man has done over the past three months.