INS: Steve Stallion (Cobram), Ned Higgins (Shepparton), Nick Dore (Kew), Tom Bandi (Endeavour Hills), Lachlan Brown
OUTS: Riley Gow, Brodey Rudd (Cairns), Callum Leighton-Daly (Waaia), Lach Harris, Ryan Harris, Angus Cameron, Charlie Ingham (Melbourne), William Brooks (Mansfield)
After winning just two of its 18 games last season, the Hawks are set for a year of development, according to new coach Jeremy O’Brien.
“It’s always exciting when you’ve got a young group of players,” he said.
“I’m excited about the fact that I get to spend some time working with some younger players and trying to improve them - not only as footballers, but off the field as well.”
He said it was going to be good to have Nick Dore back after a stint at Kew, and was looking forward to seeing what gun recruit Steve Stallion can do.
“He’s probably a mid-field forward, a good ball user and will give us some of that experience that we probably don’t have a lot of yet,” O’Brien said.
“I think it’s important to have a mix of that on-field maturity with our younger players.”
O’Brien said he’s been encouraging his players to lean into their strengths.
“I think that’s the thing with younger players. Once they get confidence, you don’t know what’s possible,” he said.
