2017 Leaders
President – Steven Cornell
Senior Coach – Ryan Flack
Senior Captain – Jesse Dunne
What is the club’s ethos/focus in season 2017?
The Hawks are fully focused on building on what was a very positive 2016 and have their sights set on making the top 4 again in 2017 and playing finals footy.
What has the pre-season been like so far for the club, is there any group that have really impressed (younger players, veterans, new recruits etc.)
The Hawks have been impressed with the condition that all players returned in for Pre-season allowing coach Flack to focus on building endurance. This will hopefully translate into a group with elite fitness for the upcoming season.
Off the field has there been any changes to the structure of the club? And how are you situated heading into the 2017 season?
Off the field there have been a number of changes at board level with Steven Cornell taking over the Senior Club Presidency, Andrew Newey as Secretary and Gaven Broad as Treasurer. On the field the club is thrilled to have the Coach/Captain combination of Ryan Flack and Jesse Dunne return to lead the Hawks in 2017
If you could take one thing you learnt from the 2016 season to improve this year, what would it be?
The club took a lot out of its finals loss to Donvale who brought an intensity to the game that is unique to finals football. The Hawks are extremely keen to get back and have another crack at finals footy with some valuable experience under their belts.
Who are the players who you think will have a break-out season, who may have gone under the radar in the past as far the being known across the EFL community?
Dan Eastman has had his best preseason for the club and the swingman is poised to have a tremendous season and build on what was already a very good 2016.
Where does the club see itself in 3 years’ time?
The Hawks are a club on the rise with a young list, some fresh blood on the board and have shown improvement over the each of the past three years. With a new social rooms being built at Central Reserve, the club hopes to have the facilities and stability to be a finals contender each and every season.
Finally, who in your Division do you feel is the greatest threat to your chances of success in 2017 and why?
The division was extremely well contested in 2016 with very little separating 2rd from 6th and we expect more of the same in 2017. It’s going to take 12 wins to play finals football and teams will need to be consistently at their best to get to that 12 min mark.
