Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Ollie Greeves

[GinniAndTonic]

Not in the slightest. Greeves has a very penetrating kick. Greeves can push forward and take marks. At under 18 level he's a physical bully.

There was a clip shared yesterday of him missing a tackle on Newcombe. And the thought being "bit harder when you aren't bigger and stronger than everyone" But he's still bigger than Newcombe who is amongst the toughest players in the AFL.

He isn't as solid just yet but if he works hard he will be a bully in the AFL too.

I just mean in the fact he’s a bit lower than most but an absolute lovely user of the ball

 

[Roddy]

Expressed as a percentage, what do you think are his chances of playing senior footy this year? Let's say we have an average year of injuries.

 

[MazHawk]

Expressed as a percentage, what do you think are his chances of playing senior footy this year? Let's say we have an average year of injuries.

This question has no real answer of any substance.
Ollie playing seniors will depend on who and how many injuries in positions he can fill we have and on him maintaining a formline where we think firstly he's good enough to warrant selection and secondly that he can protect that position.

There are so many different factors.

 

[Roddy]

This question has no real answer of any substance.
Ollie playing seniors will depend on who and how many injuries in positions he can fill we have and on him maintaining a formline where we think firstly he's good enough to warrant selection and secondly that he can protect that position.

There are so many different factors.

That’s the essence of chance and probability my friend.

 

[mustang]

this news is great and very encouraging,
but .....
it would be bizarre and an absolute blight on all AFL recruiters (including our own) if this kid ends up getting senior time this year.
there are plenty of great Rookie stories, Luke Breust being the greatest, but I'm pretty sure virtually all did a reasonable apprenticeship at the lower levels first.

This is what the rookie used to be and should still be giving kids a go that clubs aren't 100% sold on.

Not to give players that are close to retirement another year as a rookie.

 

[MazHawk]

That’s the essence of chance and probability my friend.

Yes agreed but what i'm saying that chance and probability can't come close to even be guessed at without taking all those other factors into consideration. And even then your guess is just that - a guess.

My personal opinion is that Ollie is a solid 60% chance of debuting before the MSB. What's my opinion worth? Nothing. It's based upon infinitessimally small training snippets/what I've seen first hand and perception on what I've seen and read.

But you wanted a %age so there you go

 

[Roddy]

Yes agreed but what i'm saying that chance and probability can't come close to even be guessed at without taking all those other factors into consideration. And even then your guess is just that - a guess.

My personal opinion is that Ollie is a solid 60% chance of debuting before the MSB. What's my opinion worth? Nothing. It's based upon infinitessimally small training snippets/what I've seen first hand and perception on what I've seen and read.

But you wanted a %age so there you go

It’s all I wanted, and all we can do. Thanks.

 

[MazHawk]

It’s all I wanted, and all we can do. Thanks.

Well, you've scored a point at least.
I like guys who aren't particular about winning an argument

 

[matey]

6’4, a big unit, a footballer with good awareness/vision/quick decision making backed up by quality kicking & handball skills and known to kick a goal ……. could be a steal for us. Keep working hard Ollie!

 

[Roddy]

Well, you've scored a point at least.
I like guys who aren't particular about winning an argument

Was that an argument?

I don’t think it was.

 

[ReturningHawk]

Something about this thread seems to invite disagreement. I believe that in time Olllie will unite us. I think he's training hard, and soon that head of his will be wobbling due to slotting big goals, rather than the repeat sprints!

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Was that an argument?

I don’t think it was.

"It's not an argument. That's just contradiction!"

 

[Bugs1977]

Was that an argument?

I don’t think it was.

Pillow fight

 

[essaynode]

Not in the slightest. Greeves has a very penetrating kick. Greeves can push forward and take marks. At under 18 level he's a physical bully.

There was a clip shared yesterday of him missing a tackle on Newcombe. And the thought being "bit harder when you aren't bigger and stronger than everyone" But he's still bigger than Newcombe who is amongst the toughest players in the AFL.

He isn't as solid just yet but if he works hard he will be a bully in the AFL too.

And if he works hard, he will be our bully in the AFL

...until Geelong come sniffing and try to recruit him as a free agent just like they did with Worps. sigh

 

[CD Xbow]

And if he works hard, he will be our bully in the AFL

...until Geelong come sniffing and try to recruit him as a free agent just like they did with Worps. sigh

No danger of that, I've read it in the tealeaves, he's going to be a premiership player for the Hawks, hopefully sooner rather than later. Tasseography is good for predicting events but rather poor at giving time frames.

 

[I wanna pash Nash]

Would be interesting to know his pre and post Christmas distance for the 6min run. For any of the track watchers who saw both did he look stronger in the run on Thursday?

 

[houdinihuddo]

Expressed as a percentage, what do you think are his chances of playing senior footy this year? Let's say we have an average year of injuries.

If Ollie has no injuries, 100%.
Ollie impressed me when he trained with us in 2024 and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since his first training session in November. His ability to handle the ball cleanly and his disposal by hand and foot are exceptional. He finds his teamates in tight areas or in space where they do not have to break stride. He’s strong overhead and dangerous around goals.
Most importantly he is working really hard to improve his endurance and learn from the coaches and his teamates. I see him being a taller version of Petracca. Finally he is a really impressive young man to talk to and I’m really excited about watching him hopefully play 100, 200 and possibly 300 games for the mighty Hawks.
Hawky New Year .
EDIT: I’m also a big fan of Jack Dalton. He’s the hardest trainer and spends extra time honing his skills with Mas and other senior players. He’s a ripper young man and always says hello.

 

[Bugs1977]

If Ollie has no injuries, 100%.
Ollie impressed me when he trained with us in 2024 and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since his first training session in November. His ability to handle the ball cleanly and his disposal by hand and foot are exceptional. He finds his teamates in tight areas or in space where they do not have to break stride. He’s strong overhead and dangerous around goals.
Most importantly he is working really hard to improve his endurance and learn from the coaches and his teamates. I see him being a taller version of Petracca. Finally he is a really impressive young man to talk to and I’m really excited about watching him hopefully play 100, 200 and possibly 300 games for the mighty Hawks.
Hawky New Year .
EDIT: I’m also a big fan of Jack Dalton. He’s the hardest trainer and spends extra time honing his skills with Mas and other senior players. He’s a ripper young man and always says hello.

Love hearing / reading this HH

 

[GrimReaper3]

Yes agreed but what i'm saying that chance and probability can't come close to even be guessed at without taking all those other factors into consideration. And even then your guess is just that - a guess.

My personal opinion is that Ollie is a solid 60% chance of debuting before the MSB. What's my opinion worth? Nothing. It's based upon infinitessimally small training snippets/what I've seen first hand and perception on what I've seen and read.

But you wanted a %age so there you go

Infinitessimally, huh??
I've learnt my new word for the week after a quick google

 

[MazHawk]

Infinitessimally, huh??
I've learnt my new word for the week after a quick google

I found one 's' boring so decided to extemporize (you can google that too now - it's ok, I like educating minors.)

 

[To the Hawk]

Probably too early to say, but anyone have any insight to how Greeves is competing at stoppage and with contested ball?

There's obviously a reason he had to wait until the rookie draft. I don't necessarily even think his running is so bad that it was because of this tbh.

From the clips I have seen, and watching the u/18 Champs, I'm actually not convinced for his size that he is a dominant clearance or contested ball player.

What I've seen is perhaps and old school centre, really high IQ and finds gaps to move into for the ball around the middle of the ground, uses his height exceptionally well to consistently out mark smaller mids, moves the ball on quickly. A fantastic kick.

This old school centre is practically non-existent in AFL now. You need to transition up and back. If you don't have zip and speed around the ball, you need to be winning it at the contest.

No matter how highly skilled Greeves is, given he will never have the zip or speed, he is going to have be a highly effective stoppage player.

I like that from what I've read Newc and Hardwick have been in 1:1 physical drills with him already. Perhaps aligns to what he needs to improve. If he does at his size, I think we'll have a player.

Starting mid at Box Hill against grown men is the perfect kick-off for Greeves.

 

[grumbleguts]

Starting mid in the winning 2026 premiership side against grown men is the perfect kick-off for Greeves.

Fixed.

 

[HedgeFund]

If Ollie has no injuries, 100%.
Ollie impressed me when he trained with us in 2024 and he hasn’t put a foot wrong since his first training session in November. His ability to handle the ball cleanly and his disposal by hand and foot are exceptional. He finds his teamates in tight areas or in space where they do not have to break stride. He’s strong overhead and dangerous around goals.
Most importantly he is working really hard to improve his endurance and learn from the coaches and his teamates. I see him being a taller version of Petracca. Finally he is a really impressive young man to talk to and I’m really excited about watching him hopefully play 100, 200 and possibly 300 games for the mighty Hawks.
Hawky New Year .
EDIT: I’m also a big fan of Jack Dalton. He’s the hardest trainer and spends extra time honing his skills with Mas and other senior players. He’s a ripper young man and always says hello.

Wouldn’t he need to be upgraded and take the list spot of someone on our senior AFL list first?

We don’t have any senior list spots available at the moment and would need a long term injury for this to happen wouldn’t we?

 

[eldorado]

Wouldn’t he need to be upgraded and take the list spot of someone on our senior AFL list first?

We don’t have any senior list spots available at the moment and would need a long term injury for this to happen wouldn’t we?

Rookies have been allowed to play for years...

 

[cryptor]

I'd be surprised if he didn't get a debut this season. The balance of established midfielders hasn't really changed from last season (Worpel out and Day back in from a LTI). Maybe with Mackenzie and Butler fit and others doing more midfield cameos (eg. Weddle, Watson, Macdonald, Moore, etc) it might be tough to get in initially.

But opportunities always present themselves throughout the season and Greeves seems to have the attributes that will allow him to consistently perform well at VFL level and have him near the front of the queue when those opportunities do come, even if it turns out he's not quite ready for AFL level.

Hustwaite was able to manage to be selected 4 times in 2025 on what I imagine was largely his ball winning and distribution by hand. I think it's safe to say Greeves has more qualities to his game that will appeal to the way Sam has the team playing with his precision kicking, marking, footy IQ and composure. Which also opens the door for him to play as a 3rd tall at either end too.