BILLY Hartung is the time-trial king at Hawthorn, edging out fierce competitors Isaac Smith and Bradley Hill to assume the highly sought after title.
The trio is renowned as the best long-distance runners at the club and there was little surprise that they stood on the dais after the 2.2km time trial held around the oval at the Ricoh Centre on Saturday morning.
Hartung and Smith led the pack from the very start of the race, before the 20-year-old Hartung burst clear in the closing stages to deny his teammate a third consecutive win in the pre-Christmas trial.
Hill, who regularly displays his outstanding endurance and speed combination in games for the Hawks, finished third.
"There's obviously been a bit of banter about me, Issie and Hilly when it comes to the time trial, and it was finally good to get one over them this time," Hartung said on the club's website.
"He ran pretty hard, but I got over the top today so I was pretty happy with that."
Hartung played 20 games this year, many of them as the starting substitute, in his second season at Hawthorn before he was unluckily omitted with Jack Gunston returning from injury for the club's premiership victory over West Coast
The hard-running midfielder looks set for increased opportunities in 2016 after the Hawks lost Matt Suckling to the Western Bulldogs via free agency.
He has also taken over Suckling's No.4 jumper after spending his first two seasons in No.40.
Defender Angus Litherland has taken over the No.17 vacated by Brian Lake and yet-to-debut Dallas Willsmore has moved up to No.20.
Draftees Ryan Burton, Kieran Lovell and Blake Hardwick will all be next to each other in the locker room after receiving numbers No.35, No.36 and No.37 respectively.
New Hawthorn numbers
4 - Billy Hartung
17 - Angus Litherland
20 – Dallas Willsmore
31 – Zac Webster
32 – Jack Fitzpatrick
35 – Ryan Burton
36 – Kieran Lovell
37 – Blake Hardwick
38 – Luke Surman*
40 – Kade Stewart*
44 – Conor Glass*
Billy Hartung leads the field in Saturday morning's trial. Pictures: hawthornfc.com.au
Draftee Kieran Lovell and Ben McEvoy running hard
Jono O'Rourke keeping pace with Ben Stratton
James Sicily catches his breath after the time trial
