Hawthorn’s brilliant midfield star Jai Newcombe says the Hawks can ride the line between humble and Hokball next season as Sam Mitchell’s young side arrives on centre stage.
The Hawks have been handed a host of prime time clashes where their every move will be put under scrutiny after a season that ended with Ken Hinkley being fined for mocking Jack Ginnivan’s social media jibes.
Ginnivan had posted on social media that he would see former teammate Brodie Grundy in 14 days, with Hinkley’s sarcastic reaction post-semi final another indication the Hawks will be analysed more heavily in 2025.
Newcombe has quickly become Hawthorn’s best player with a pair of runner-up finishes and then a breakthrough win in this year’s Peter Crimmins Medal.
On Sunday the Yarra Yarra member took part in the Cross Code challenge as a lead-in to the IPS HANDA Australian Open held at Kingston Heath starting on Thursday.
That world-class sandbelt course is only a few kilometres from the club’s new Dingley headquarters which Newcombe says will only help the club’s premiership aims when it is ready for business next year.
And while the brash, celebration-heavy nature of the club’s Hokball style of football has enraptured its young fans, Newcombe says the club won’t tip over into hubris.
“I think we were able to find the balance really well through the year in celebrating things we valued as a club and playing group and not letting that get out of hand and not diminishing our opposition,” he told the Herald Sun.
“The boys did it really well and had a lot of fun with their creations (after goals) and did a lot of hard work to put ourselves in a spot to have fun at the right time. I think that will continue.
“Next year is going to be exciting for us. The group is hungry for success after the season that has just been, so it’s going to be fun to be a part of 추천 playing in front of bigger crows more often.
“(The added attention) is to be expected when you become a better team in the competition. It’s just a part of the AFL and it’s not different to anyone else the year before. It’s where you want to be as a player and a club.”
Brisbane’s AFLW team joined the men’s side in the finals across the weekend, and while there have been calls for an overhaul of the $1 million prize money handed to the Hawks for winning the McClelland Trophy, Newcombe is comfortable with his club’s efforts.
“We have done everything in our power for it to land in our hands. The girls did an exceptional job in only dropping one game through the season and we finished seventh and it’s for the home and away season so I understand some of the criticism but we did what was required for it to land in our lap. It was nice to see both teams in the finals at the end of the year.”
But he says the improvement will come from across the list as Hawthorn’s young first-round draftees also try to fit into Sam Mitchell’s calculations.
“Cam Mackenzie and Josh Ward got games under their belt this year. Cam was a consistent performer all year and Wardy made the most of his chances in the final and did really well. I am looking forward to those younger guys developing and even Henry Hustwaite who played a lot of VFL. If we can get Daysey (Will Day) back from the start of the year we can hit the ground running.”
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