If Hawthorn was indulging in any premiership pretensions, they were given a severe reality check last Saturday at the MCG.

A Brisbane Lions outfit in a savage mood mauled the Hawks. Eleven Brisbane goals after half time left the Hawks in no doubt they’d just gone around against a team hell-bent on a successful premiership defence.

It wasn’t all bad news though. The latest crop of young Hawks are beginning to emerge as vital players in Peter Schwab’s’ plan to bring glory back to Glenferrie.

A few weeks ago it was 2001 number one draft pick Luke Hodge who made headlines by winning a rising star nomination. This week however, Ries is the word – Nick Ries.

The young midfielder collected 22 possessions in his team’s 56-point loss. It wasn’t enough to win his team the game though it did snare him the AFL Rising Star Nomination for round 17.

It is little consolation for the 20 year old to know that his team was in the game at half-time but then failed to go in with it, therefore missing the perfect opportunity to make a statement.

“It’s a bit disappointing the way we finished against Brisbane. After half-time they showed why they are probably the flag favourites. Jonathan Brown took a really big mark in the third quarter and it got them going. There work around stoppages was really good and just their physical pressure around general play was the difference.”

It’s a measure of the regard the Hawk hierarchy have of Nick Ries that he was given the task of shadowing the dangerous Simon Black for the afternoon.

“I was playing on the ball which was a good opportunity. It was almost a shootout with him (Black) by the end of the afternoon. “

And for the young Hawk it was a master class in the art of the midfield.

“He’s someone you can really learn a lot from. His positioning around general play and how hard he works to get to the right position and his voice out on the ground are all impressive.”

Nick Ries has always wanted to play AFL footy. A bayside boy, he started as a junior with East Brighton in Melbourne before a couple of seasons with the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup under 18 competition.

Ries used to dream of red, white and black, and was hoping to be drafted by the Saints. However, when his name was called out at number 21 in the 2000 National Draft, it was off to Glenferrie Oval instead.

The rookie midfielder spent is inaugural year doing his apprenticeship with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL. It turned out to be an adventure all of its own and delivered the prize every footballer treasures – a premiership.

“It was a great year. Coach Donald McDonald has taught me a lot and I still do a fair bit of work with him. He’s probably the main reason why I’m playing senior footy now.”

Ries accepts the sacrifices professional football demands of him. Though he sometimes wishes that he could party hard with his mates, he simply has to remind himself that he’s living out a childhood dream.

“You’ve got to be dedicated and really focus in on your skills, doing your weight sessions and maintaining your work ethic. It’s hard but my mates are supportive. They’d give anything to be in my position. When you’re out there doing the hard stuff – the 1K time trials – you just remind yourself just how lucky you are.”

When he’s not putting in the hard yards Ries is hitting the books and working his way through a degree in business management. “ It’s going quite well. I do it at night so I don’t go when the young crew are around.”

Oh no. Can you imagine a fate worse than being stuck in a class full of mature age students with an unhealthy obsession with doing all their assignments on time? It sounds worse than a Dermott Brereton shirtfront. Such are the sacrifices of an elite footballer.

For Nick Ries it will be worth it if he can maintain his form and help get the Hawks to the finals.

“This week is a big one against Fremantle. The next month gives us a good opportunity to win a few and taking some form into the finals. We are pretty confident we can take on anyone on any given day.”

And if the Hawks do make the eight they know from last year’s dramatic finals run – anything is possible.

And wouldn’t the proud and passionate Hawks fans to love see some Ries Lightning electrifying the MCG on that one day in September.