Ever since 2018 when he replaced Graham Wright in the position of recruiting and list manager, Mark Mackenzie has made countless list decisions through draft and trade pathways that have ultimately resulted in the extreme fast-tracking of a “rebuild” that once seemed on a similar trajectory to perennial cellar-dwellers North Melbourne or West Coast.
Though the conventional route of the National Draft, alongside some shrewd trading, has accounted for the majority of the current list, Mackenzie has never been one to shy away from alternate avenues of talent acquisition; most notably Changkouth Jiath via the Next Generation Academy system, as well as Jai Newcombe and James Blanck through the Mid-Season Draft.
This strategy to utilize all available resources when attempting to improve Hawthorn’s playing squad has continued heading into the 2025 season, as a few recent list tweaks have subsequently allowed for the recruitment of both Matthew Hill and Jaime Uhr-Henry; two young players who offer yet another reason for Hawks fans to get excited.
Our New Rookies:
Matt Hill
Age: 20
Height: 187cm
Position: TBD
Club: Melbourne Storm Academy
Swing Skill: Speed
Despite the lack of success cross-code leaps from rugby league to AFL have offered in the past (i.e Israel Folau, Karmichael Hunt), the engrossing potential of former Melbourne Storm Academy member Matthew Hill is reason to believe historical precedent may be overruled.
Although information on Matthew Hill and his AFL pedigree is currently limited, his striking athletic profile and breakneck pace has caught the eye of both NRL and AFL recruiters; with the latter ultimately coming out on top in the race for his signature.
Hailing from the Northern Territory, Hill possesses a rare blend of size, speed and X-factor that allows him to “do things not a lot of other players can” according to one Storm staff member.
These physical gifts and athletic promise that have the ability to transcend different sporting codes have led to Mark Mackenzie and the rest of the recruiting department at Hawthorn considering Hill as a worthy long-term project via the Category B rookie pathway that could eventually prove to be an absolute bargain.
Jaime Uhr-Henry
Age: 21
Height: 209cm
Position: Ruck
Club: Bulleen Boomers/Dandenong Rangers (NBL One)
Swing Attribute: Height
Measuring in at an impressive 209cm, former member of the Bulleen Boomers and Dandenong Rangers (NBL One) Jaime Uhr-Henry certainly possesses intriguing physical attributes that have obviously caught the eye of the recruiting team at Hawthorn.
Hoping to emulate the success of players like Luke Jackson, Marcus Bontempeli and of course Scott Pendlebury who have made the switch from professional basketball to football, Uhr-Henry looms as a potential long-term running mate alongside Lloyd Meek.
Though the 21 year-old currently has a slight frame and hasn’t played a game of football since under-17 level for local club East Ringwood, (where he was teammates with Nick Watson), his physical tools, which include a wingspan around 7’0 feet, and pre-existing background as a professional athlete warrants taking a long-term bet on his upside, especially given the delisting of Clay Tucker which leaves ruck depth at the Hawks somewhat thin.
Assuming the relative durability of Lloyd Meek (as well as Ned Reeves and Max Ramsden) continues, Uhr-Henry will likely spend most of 2025 developing through the Box Hill (or even local level) program/s.
However, close collaboration with coaches such as David Hale (Midfield), Zane Littlejohn (Box Hill Hawks Senior Coach), Andy Collins (Head of Development) and Adrian Hickmont (Contest) may help unlock his extreme potential early.
