Jai Newcombe is now officially a Hawthorn-listed player, having been snapped up by the club with Pick 2 in Wednesday night’s mid-season rookie draft.

The talented 19-year-old has turned heads in 2021, putting together an impressive campaign under Sam Mitchell’s watchful eye with the Box Hill Hawks.

Newcombe has averaged 23 disposals and seven tackles a game across his six appearances for the VFL Hawks this season.

Newcombe missed his opportunity to impress as a top-ager with Gippsland Power in the 2020 NAB League, after the competition was brought to a standstill due to the pandemic.

Standing at 186cm, Newcombe is a tough inside midfielder who relishes the contest and boasts great strength and explosiveness.

His ability to break tackles and inflict his own defensive pressure will certainly be great assets to help bolster the Hawthorn’s midfield stocks in the latter half of the 2021 season.

Newcombe is one of two draftees to join the club via the mid-season draft, with the Hawks also selecting Jackson Callow with Pick 17.