High profile recruit former Sydney Swans midfielder Luke Ablett will bolster the Box Hill Hawks’ midfield stocks and add class and leadership to the playing group.
Joining Ablett are exciting recruits Ryan Jackson and Shaun Pollard.
Jackson, taken in the 2006 Rookie Draft by Carlton with their first selection, played a total of nine games for the Blues between 2006 and 2008. After playing in the WAFL with Claremont last year, the 22-year-old will form a formidable partnership with Ablett in the Hawks new-look centreline.
Shaun Pollard is the third major signing of the pre-season. A well regarded and respected VFL player, Pollard moves from Frankston to Box Hill to cover the loss of Lukas Markovic, who was drafted to the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2009. Pollard captained Frankston from 2008-09 and was named in the 2006 VFL Team of the Year at full back.
Box Hill is also very pleased to have recruited Haydn Kiel (ex-Hawthorn rookie), who will bring a extra pace and agility to the Hawks’ defence.
These signings will help cover the loss of Adem Yze (Shepparton Swans), Sam Iles (Gold Coast), Lukas Markovic (Western Bulldogs) and Phil Smith (Williamstown). Hugh Sandilands and Joel Cross have also parted ways with the Hawks, having transferred to Port Melbourne and Scoresby respectively.
In terms of coaching, the Club has lost premiership winning reserves coach Dale Bower to Scoresby. Replacing Bower is the highly regarded Justin Plapp, a valuable acquisition considering all the experience he has had, not only as a player, but as a coach.
With Senior coach Brendon Bolton at the helm in his second season, the Box Hill Hawks will be looking to improve on their fourth placing last year.
Read Brendon Bolton’s report on the year ahead, and feature games in Club magazine HawkTalk, due out later this month.
