Written in collaboration with Ollie Tisbury.
The 2024 National Draft is fast approaching, with just a week until the next generation of footballers find out which club will become their home.
Following the 2024 Trade Period, Hawthorn enters the draft with picks 33, 71, 77 and three open list spots.
This capital comes after parting ways with pick 13 in the successful pursuit of former West Coast defender Tom Barrass and the temporary delisting of Jack Gunston, who will be relisted in the rookie draft.
Hawthorn had great success in the 2023 National Draft, picking up two rising stars in Nick Watson (pick five) and Calsher Dear (pick 56), as well as exciting defenders Will McCabe (pick 19) and Bodie Ryan (pick 46) who spent their first season at the Hawks Nest developing through the Box Hill system.
Cam McKenzie (pick seven) and Josh Weddle (pick 18) are also prime examples of Hawthorn’s success in identifying talent in recent National Drafts, with the pair playing significant roles in the clubs success this year after being drafted in 2022.
Since the 2024 footy season began, experts have viewed this year’s National Draft as one of the most impressive crops in recent memory, with a deep pool of talent reaching well beyond the first two rounds.
With Hawthorn’s list developing ahead of schedule in terms of its premiership window, some may argue that there is no need for Hawthorn to pursue more picks in this year’s draft.
However, next season’s draft (and likely the ones that follow) looks set to be heavily compromised due to ongoing academy and father-son ties, alongside the looming inauguration of the Tasmanian side, leading to some hesitancy from other clubs when it comes to accepting future draft capital during the Trade Period.
Taking this into consideration, the 2024 draft may be an important opportunity for Hawthorn to lock in some emerging talent and solidify its list depth, future-proofing the club for prolonged success, especially if some players decide to move on in 2025.
The Case For Trading Up:
As previously referenced, Hawthorn are expected to go into the 2024 National Draft with picks 33, 71 and 77.
Also mentioned above are Hawthorn’s three available list spaces. However, a commitment to retain veteran Jack Gunston as a rookie means two prospects are likely to be added.
With two spots available, Hawthorn must opt for maximum value their picks, or alternatively could package future picks, including a future first and second (recieved from Carlton) to improve their hand when accessing this stacked draft class.
By combining draft capital and perhaps trading with Richmond (who have a whopping eight first round picks: 1, 6, 10, 11, 18, 20, 23, 24), Hawthorn could gain a first-rounder which means they could obtain a talented key position player to fill a need in the forward line, or opt for further depth to support the already strong midfield and defensive brigade Sam Mitchell’s has at his disposal.
While the pick trading period (October 17 to November 8) is over, Hawthorn can still trade picks on the night of the draft.
Who We Could Target:
Taj Hotton
Height: 182cm
Position: Midfielder/Forward
D.O.B: 17.06.2006
Club: Sandringham Dragons (Coates Talent League)
Final Phantom Draft Placement: 16
In a similar fashion to prospects like Elijah Hollands or Brodie Kemp of past National Drafts, Taj Hotton’s true position in this crop of incoming prospects has been significantly muddied by an ACL rupture, which occured back in May.
His status as an athletic and silky midfielder/forward with a penetrating kick and an explosive leap would usually guarantee his placement firmly in the top ten of this draft, however the knee reconstruction that has seen him sidelined for the majority of the year means the door remains ajar for Hotton to fall down the order.
Despite the likelihood of him reaching pick 33 (where the Hawks will start their draft at the time of writing) being extremely slim, Hotton could definitely be worth packaging up future selections in the name of a “high-risk, high-reward” play.
If his 32 disposal, four goal performance against Oakleigh Chargers early in the Coates Talent League Season is anything to go by, this is the type of talent Hawks may want to further improve their list depth, particularly in the midfield and forward line.
Jobe Shanahan
Height: 195 cm
Position: Key Forward
D.O.B: 02.08.2006
Club: Bendigo Pioneers (Coates Talent League)
Final Phantom Draft Placement: 20
Since last writing about Jobe Shanahan, the 194cm forward has been a big riser in multiple prospective draft lists, including jumping seven places from July to October according to Cal Twomey’s Phantom Draft.
His conversion rate, leading patterns and vice-like hands have really impressed scouts, particularly after kicking eleven goals from three games for Essendon’s VFL side, highlighting Shanahan’s ability to hold his own against mature bodies already.
In terms of his place in Hawthorn’s team, a player like Jobe would prove incredibly handy when it comes time for Jack Gunston to move on, or in the unfortunate case Mitch Lewis encounters future setbacks in his recovery.
James Barrat
Height: 194 cm
Position: Key Defender/Forward
D.O.B: 23.11.2006
Club: Bendigo Pioneers (Coates Talent League)
Final Phantom Draft Placement: Outside Top-30
Looming as an intriguing prospect due mainly to his versatility and ability to control the air, James Barrat’s positioning outside the top 30 of most mock drafts was challenged by many of his peers, including Tobie Travaglia, Jobe Shanahan and Jack Whitlock, who all voted him as this years “bolter” prospect in a recent Fox Footy led survey.
After playing the first half of the season as a key forward and booting 19 goals in his first six games for the Bendigo Pioneers, Barrat was swung behind the ball after a reported push by AFL clubs.
This move proved fruitful, as the 194cm prospect went on to average averaging 19 disposals, nine marks and eight rebound 50s in his final six home and away games for the Pioneers; highlighting an ability to thrive at either end that could likely intrigue Mark Mackenzie and co on draft night.
Additional Options:
Jonty Faull
Comparable to Jobe Shanahan, Jonty Faull is another 195cm, hard working, key forward, with a strong aerial game and efficiency around the big sticks, notching 27 majors from 11 games.
Faull is projected to land at pick 25, according to Cal Twomey, with Port, GWS and Sydney watching this space.
Tom Sims
Sliding down the draft order somewhat, we have the likes of Tom Sims, a potential ruck/forward option standing at 199cm tall.
Playing for Northern Knights and Vic Metro in his junior career, Sims has been compared to Jeremy Cameron and Kieran Briggs, demonstrating his physicality while also recording 23 goals, 14 behinds for the season.
At the national combine, he had top ten finishes in the running vertical leap and agility tests.
Sims is expected to draft somewhere in the 25-40 range according to Rookie Central.
