HAWTHORN has strengthened ties with one of its most famous football families by recruiting Lachlan Langford, the son of club legend Chris and brother of premiership player Will, in Wednesday's NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
The 18-year-old utility joined the Hawks with pick No. 58, following the selections of tough on-baller Jared Hardisty from Claremont (pick 18) and South Fremantle's medium-sized forward Jermaine Miller-Lewis (pick 36).
Delisted big man Sam Grimley also found his way back onto the list with the club's final selection, No. 65.
After the retirement of two-time premiership champion Brad Sewell and the departure of Mitch Hallahan to Gold Coast, the Hawks were keen to bolster their inside midfield presence.
The defending premiers pounced on Hardisty with their first pick. He is a hard-running and competitive 178cm midfielder who averaged 27 possessions per game in the WAFL's underage competition last season.
Miller-Lewis, who was sidelined from the NAB AFL Under-18 championships due to injury, is a speedy and smart 187cm forward who reads the play well and has the ability to make something out of nothing.
Langford is an athletic utility with good skills who can play on a forward flank or key position.
Grimley has played three games – but none last season - since he was taken with pick No. 39 overall in the 2009 national draft.
The 18-year-old utility joined the Hawks with pick No. 58, following the selections of tough on-baller Jared Hardisty from Claremont (pick 18) and South Fremantle's medium-sized forward Jermaine Miller-Lewis (pick 36).
Delisted big man Sam Grimley also found his way back onto the list with the club's final selection, No. 65.
After the retirement of two-time premiership champion Brad Sewell and the departure of Mitch Hallahan to Gold Coast, the Hawks were keen to bolster their inside midfield presence.
The defending premiers pounced on Hardisty with their first pick. He is a hard-running and competitive 178cm midfielder who averaged 27 possessions per game in the WAFL's underage competition last season.
Miller-Lewis, who was sidelined from the NAB AFL Under-18 championships due to injury, is a speedy and smart 187cm forward who reads the play well and has the ability to make something out of nothing.
Langford is an athletic utility with good skills who can play on a forward flank or key position.
Grimley has played three games – but none last season - since he was taken with pick No. 39 overall in the 2009 national draft.
Hawthorn's rookie picks
Selection No.18 - Jared Hardisty (Claremont)
Recruiting and list manager Graham Wright says: "We're happy to get Jared. He's an inside mid, he's got a big tank, he's got good speed, he's a really good clearance player and has good hands inside. He's a left-footer – he needs to work on his kick a little bit – but he's hard and tough and a really high quality young man.
Selection No.36 – Jermaine Miller-Lewis (South Fremantle)
Recruiting and list manager Graham Wright says: "He didn't play at all in 2014 coming off the back off a couple of injuries (shin splints and syndesmosis ankle sprain). He's been back in training for three or four weeks now… he's another one who has got some work to do but he's really exciting. He's quick and aggressive – a really competitive indigenous boy. He's good overhead but probably needs to work on his kick a little. He's very raw, but another one who is a quality young man and right into his indigenous culture.
Selection No.53 – Lachlan Langford (Melbourne Grammar)
Recruiting and list manager Graham Wright says: "He's another good young man. He hasn't played a lot of footy in the last two years as well – he's had a couple of injuries, an ankle this year and then a minor knee operation last year. He played about five or six games this year and showed some real glimpses. He's got a very immature body, no real training history, but he's got endurance, good athleticism, long arms, can mark the ball and kicks it well. He's just coming off a stress fracture he had in his back so he's going to be a slow starter. He might end up being a key position player, he's about 189cm but … we think he's still growing."
