The 5 Year Plan: Hawthorn
The numbers for the players are their approximate ages in 5 years time. Of course, trades, injuries, drafts and unexpected retirements will affect what players are still around in 5 years. But this might be the core of the team when season 2011 starts.
FB C Brown 28, J Roughead 24, B Guerra 29
HB J Kennedy 23, B Renouf 23, B Sewell 27
C X Ellis 23, S Mitchell 28, J Lewis 25
HF R Ladson 27, M Thorp 23, B Dowler 23
FF C Bateman 30, L Franklin 24, M Williams 28
Foll M Bailey 24, L Hodge 27, G Birchall 23
bench R Campbell 29, T Croad 31, G Moss 23, C Young 25
Outlook: The Hawks can thank the Kangaroos for setting up some of this team as they sent a few extra first rounders to the Hawks. Hawthorn have plenty of bigs and are set in the key positions and the ruck for the future. The Hawks have enough inside midfielders but will want to add some more running players in the next few drafts.
FB C Brown 28, J Roughead 24, B Guerra 29
HB J Kennedy 23, B Renouf 23, B Sewell 27
C X Ellis 23, S Mitchell 28, J Lewis 25
HF R Ladson 27, M Thorp 23, B Dowler 23
FF C Bateman 30, L Franklin 24, M Williams 28
Foll M Bailey 24, L Hodge 27, G Birchall 23
bench R Campbell 29, T Croad 31, G Moss 23, C Young 25
Outlook: The Hawks can thank the Kangaroos for setting up some of this team as they sent a few extra first rounders to the Hawks. Hawthorn have plenty of bigs and are set in the key positions and the ruck for the future. The Hawks have enough inside midfielders but will want to add some more running players in the next few drafts.
afl opinion
"AFL Kid"
Hard to see Jacobs lasting that long, but you never know. Murphy and Morton are also similar-sized players who the Hawks have.
Muston has had numerous knee operations but he is still considered a good prospect, this season should give a good indication of how he will go.
Hawthorn have a lot of young depth, which is something they should have as they have been rebuilding over the past few seasons. They have fewer holes to fill than some teams but they will also soon have the pressure of needing to get results on the field.