Ryan Burton

Burton continued where he left off in 2017, giving every indication he is ready to take on further responsibility in the Hawks’ backline this year. The South Australian provided some of the highlights of the night when he booted two 60-plus metre ‘Zooper goals’. Despite the frenetic pace of AFLX, the 21-year old showed the composure and skill level that Hawks fans came to rely upon in 2017.

James Sicily

Sicily was one of the Hawks who seemed to acclimatise to the game-style of AFLX the best. Handed the captaincy in Game 2 against the Saints, Sicily looked right at home in the new hybrid game. Despite only featuring in one game on the night, the 23-year old was a clear stand-out, kicking two goals (including one ‘Zooper goal’) and displaying a familiar aerial dominance.

Blake Hardwick

The Hawks’ most efficient ball-user in 2017 was well-suited to the high-skilled game style of AFLX. Debuting in the guernsey number 15 for the first time, Hardwick’s big moment on the night came in the first minute of the second half against the Saints when he won an important one-on-one contest against the more mature Sam Gilbert before booting home a ‘Zooper goal’. The kick closed the margin back to four points after being 24 points only a minute earlier. The hard nut also kicked an impressive snap goal in Game 2 as the Hawks kicked away in the closing stages of the second half.

Daniel Howe

Howe kicked off proceedings when he booted the opening goal of the night for the Hawks. Now entering his fourth year in the AFL system, the 22-year old looks primed to take his game to the next level as he becomes a more senior figure inside an increasingly youthful Hawthorn midfield.

Jack Gunston

Many fans’ questions were answered on Friday, as Jack Gunston spent his night in the Hawks forward line. Having played the last two months of the 2017 season in defence, the 26-year old returned to attack, looking comfortable back in front of the big sticks. One of the best players for the Hawks on the night, Gunston revelled in the free-flowing, high-skill level that the AFLX demanded.

Dallas Willsmore

Willsmore seemed to get better and better the longer the night went on. Having played two senior games in 2017, Willsmore has an important season ahead of him and was able to kick-start his 2018 campaign in fine fashion. After a couple of missed shots at goal in the opening half of Game 1, the 22-year old kicked an important ‘Zooper goal’ midway through the second half to quell a Bombers surge.

Luke Breust

Breust’s exposure was limited to the opening game of the night against Essendon, but Hawks fans will have been buoyed by what they say from their trusty goal kicker. Combining menacing tackling pressure with his typical offensive potency, the 27-year old’s highlight of the night was when he threaded a goal from a difficult angle in the second half of Game 1.

Tim O’Brien

After relentless efforts in the opening term of Game 1, O’Brien was rewarded with a goal just before half-time to give the Hawks a 14-point ascendancy over the Bombers. But the 23-year old drew the applause most from the 22,585-strong crowd with his spectacular marking. O’Brien took countless contested marks in a sign that he is ready to shoulder further burden as a key forward option for the Hawks this year.

Ryan Schoenmakers

Schoenmakers belittled the argument that AFLX is a game exclusively catered for smaller players, as the 195cm utility was the Hawks’ highest possession winner in their opening win over Essendon. The 27-year old was dominant inside the Hawks forward 50, involved in numerous forward forays.

Liam Shiels

The Hawks captain for the night, the fast-paced game-style of AFLX did little to stop Shiels from rediscovering his typical combative best. Only playing in the opening game of Friday night, the 26-year old looked in good touch. The club’s co-vice-captain for 2018 also managed to slot home a ‘Zooper goal’ as the Hawks pulled away from the Bombers in Game 1.

David Mirra

David Mirra had waited a long time to pull on a Hawthorn guernsey and, getting his chance on Friday night, the strong-bodied defender gave a good account of himself. The 26-year old influenced the game early with an intercept mark from one of Essendon’s kick-in which he consequently slotted home to give the Hawks their first lead of the night.

Harry Morrison

After spending the majority of his debut season at the Ricoh Centre in defence, Morrison spent the majority of AFLX in the Hawks forward line. The 19-year old looked lively in attack, and helped to find Sicily for the Hawks’ first goal of Game 2 after the Saints had run away to an early 27-point lead. He won a telling one-on-one contest against Saints forward Tim Membrey to facilitate Dylan Moore’s first goal in Hawks colours.

Dylan Moore

The lifelong Hawthorn supporter realised his dream on Friday night when he pulled on the brown and gold jumper for the first time. The 176cm midfielder looked comfortable at the level, getting his hands and knees dirty with clean skills. In Game 2, Moore gave the Hawks their first lead against the Saints midway through the second half after an impressive dribbling goal that gave a snapshot of the 18-year old’s composure and footy smarts.

Jackson Ross

Sporting a subtle mullet, Ross spent the majority of his night in the Hawks defence. The 18-year old looked a likely type and was especially prominent in the Gran Final. The former Eastern Ranges player kicked the Hawks’ second goal of the night’s decider against Melbourne after some solid defensive pressure saw him lay a smother before toe-poking home a well-earned major.

James Worpel

Draftee James Worpel wasted no time in earning the respect of Hawks fans in his first outing in a brown and gold jumper. The former Geelong Falcon showed a strong desire for the physical side of the game and appeared a ready-made option for senior action if coach Alastair Clarkson was looking for midfield grunt. The 19-year old also hit the scoreboard on Friday night, kicking a ‘Zooper goal’ against the Saints.

Oliver Hanrahan

Hanrahan showed promising foot speed and strong foot skills in his opportunity on Friday night. The 19-year old had little problem finding his way into the game, but initially failed to capitalise on his hard work with two misses in Game 2. Yet, thankfully, the promising speedster got his chance again when he showed the Demons defenders a clean pair of heels to kick the opening goal of the Grand Final. He chimed in later in the game to finish with two goals on the night.

Teia Miles

Miles worked hard across the ground in his AFLX experience. Known for his strong workrate, the 21-year old implemented some strong defensive spoils whilst also getting involved in offensive patterns. Having played four senior games in 2017, Miles’ neat foot skills stood out in stages throughout the night.

Conor Nash

Conor Nash’s night got better and better the longer it wore on, with the key position player recording the most possessions for the Hawks in the Grand Final against the Demons. The 197cm Irishman, who boasts elite endurance, continued to run out the night as others appeared to tire. Nash displayed the benefits of another pre-season under his belt, as the athletic big man showed a clear advance in his game knowledge and skill level.

James Cousins

Cousins helped quell the Saints’ quick start in Game 2, kicking the Hawks’ second goal of the game. The number 46 chimed in again with his second major of the night as the Hawks asserted their dominance in the second half to book themselves a place in the Grand Final.