HAWTHORN was already considering topping up its list before Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell's potentially season-ending leg break on Friday.
Box Hill-listed ruck giant Ned Reeves, who stands 208cm – just 3cm shorter than Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands and Magpie Mason Cox – and weighs 96kg, is training with the Hawks.
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They sought permission from the AFL, as is protocol, for 20-year-old Reeves - the son of Hawks CEO Justin - to join them. How the Mitchell news potentially affects Reeves' prospects remains to be seen.
Hawthorn is retaining retired premiership forward Will Langford on its list this year despite him retiring in October after being delisted with one season left on his contract.
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However, the Hawks, like Sydney with Kurt Tippett, can place Langford on the inactive list and replace him as part of the new pre-season supplemental selection period (SSP), as AFL.com.au reported in November.
They have until March 15 to make a decision, with any player previously on an AFL list or who nominated for last year's drafts and failed to find a home able to be recruited.
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Hawthorn will be able to use the same system to find some midfield reinforcement for Mitchell, if the Hawks elect to put him on the long-term injury list.
There will also be a mid-season draft this year, so the Hawks may wait until then to fill one of their two available slots.
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The likes of dual Magarey medallist Mitch Grigg and two-time Sandover medallist Jye Bolton could be among the options, with VFL champion Mick Gibbons already training with Carlton.
Dandenong Stingrays product Matthew Cottrell is also joining the Blues for their pre-season, while West Australian Sydney Stack, an under-18 All Australian last year, is training at Richmond.
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Reeves, who has also been used up forward, didn't make a VFL appearance for Box Hill in 2018, with the state league no longer having a secondary level for development players.
The former Oakleigh Charger instead played 14 games, including 12 in the Premier Division for nine goals, for St Kevin's in the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
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Reeves also represented the competition's under-19 Big V side against a Victoria Country team in July last year.
Hawthorn's ruck stocks already include Ben McEvoy, Jon Ceglar and Marc Pittonet, who are all out of contract at the end of the 2019 season.
