The Hawks missed out on mids during trade period – but got a secret weapon anyway |
The Hawks missed out on mids during trade period – but got a secret weapon anyway
April 12, 2026 — 6:33pm
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Last week, Jack Gunston’s second best-ever toe-poke on the MCG won Hawthorn the game. Sort of. There is an argument Ned Reeves did more with his long-armed caress of the ball to Jai Newcombe at the last Easter Monday ball-up than Gunston did.
Looking for where improvement would come at Hawthorn this year, it was logical to assess what they were missing – Will Day at length and Zach Merrett at all – than what they had actually added.
Reeves has made them significantly better. Just as the first-ruck rule almost killed his career and ignited Lloyd Meek’s, this year’s rule change has resurrected Reeves and delivered Hawthorn an advantage that is not coincidental to the fact they are equal top of the ladder.
Reeves has a leap and soft hands to tap the ball. Meek is now the robust yang to the willowy Reeves’ yin.
Hawthorn have improved their midfield – without adding midfielders.
After five rounds they have had more hitouts to the advantage of their midfielders than any team.
They are the top-ranked side for giving their mids the chance to get the first use of the ball, which has helped them become the third-ranked side for getting the ball first.
Reeves wins almost two thirds (62.4 per cent) of the ball-ups he contests, which is more than any ruckman in the competition.
Of course, his ascendancy was magnified on Saturday night because Tim English was out for the Western Bulldogs and raw 19-year-old Louis Emmett was thrown in to make his debut. But Reeves had already helped establish a new edge for the Hawks.
This is a player who was doubtful to stay at Hawthorn six months ago after playing just one game last year and four the year before.
Greg Swann’s rule change saved........