Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn, Ned Reeves. Extends to 2026!

[cryptor]

I love big Ned. He launches at the ball with timing you don’t normally see for someone his size, with a bit more size this will become even more noticeable.

Also has a lot of finesse to his tap work that I don't see with our other rucks. Actually looks like he expects to get first touch and subsequently he tries to direct the ball to particular spots rather than just being happy to touch it at all and just making sure it doesn't necessarily go exactly where the opposition want it to go.

 

[WWSD]

VFL

Round 10: 11 disposals - 5 marks - 25 hit-outs
Round 11: 12 disposals - 5 marks - 3 tackles - 35 hit-outs - 1 goal - 2 behinds
Round 12: 13 disposals - 2 marks - 38 hit-outs - 1 goal

One noticeable improvement in his game is Reeves is now taking marks around the ground and also pushing forward and kicking goals.

As tempting as it would be to bring him in and leave him in the team for the rest of the year to fast-track his development, if he plays more then 5 AFL games I think he then becomes ineligible to feature for Box Hill during the finals.

 

[hawkmang]

Big opportunity for the big fella against Gawn this weekend

 

[MrPremiership]

Great just to see him back in the side.

Jackson seems to be rucking more, as they're saving Maxy. Good challenge

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Just looking forward to seeing the big stringbean back out there.
One of the most promising players on our list, so it’s all just about baby steps for him.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Big test tonight, was pleasantly surprised by him in his first 2 games, but GC and Carlton had two of the worst ruck divisions in the league.

 

[MrPremiership]

Just looking forward to seeing the big stringbean back out there.
One of the most promising players on our list, so it’s all just about baby steps for him.

Is holding his own in the hit outs around the ground against Maxy

 

[rei154]

Thought he played a great game all things considered. 19 hitouts, 3 clearances, 9 disposals spltting his time with Big Boy.
He'll get a lot of confidence out of that performance against one of the best and another young bull!

 

[TylerDurden]

Loved his game.

 

[manB]

He made out midfield look better, loving it

 

[Hodginator]

Love how he served it up to one of the best in the comp and didn’t even looked fussed.

 

[HairyO]

Brilliant game. Any time you can make Gawn look average to good is a massive win.

 

[CHUBBSS]

Even just one more pre season and watch out, serious young ruck on our hands

Get him a partner for the long term ASAP!

 

[Buzz Hawk]

Yeah I liked what i saw with Ned tonight.
At worst he gave Gawn a contest, at best he out rucked him. A rookie against the premier ruckman in the competition.
Great effort, I like this kid. A lot.
Love Big Boy but Ned is our future.

 

[Dewnior]

Get him a partner for the long term ASAP!

What, your not a fan of Noodle's current girlfriend?

 

[tommyk72]

Excellent work by Ned. Max normally tears us apart. He not only held his own, but had some great taps, and some good influence on contests, particularly near the end in the defensive 50.

Excited to see more of him. Ceglar should not get another game.

 

[Nick the Pig]

That was a hell of a 3rd game against the best in the business. He made big Max compete for everything. Can't help but think Cegs would have been too timid and been slaughtered.

 

[MrPremiership]

The fear of him getting smashed by bigger bodies should be dispelled now.

No reason why he shouldn't play every game for the rest of the year.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Gun.

 

[SammyC]

He wasn’t great in the first half but once he settled he was a massive reason we got back into it.

I think it has to be him and big boy moving fwd. With the skipper playing more of a ruck fwd role.

Mitch Lewis should be working with them all preseason too - there is a real opportunity for him to lock down a ruck fwd role beyond big boy.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Did well vs Gawn in the stoppage situations so that's a big win.

Needs to really work on improving his overhead marking is the next step, he's a poor mark for someone so tall.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

He wasn’t great in the first half but once he settled he was a massive reason we got back into it.

I think it has to be him and big boy moving fwd. With the skipper playing more of a ruck fwd role.

Mitch Lewis should be working with them all preseason too - there is a real opportunity for him to lock down a ruck fwd role beyond big boy.

I'd say Lewis becomes the 2nd ruck but he wont be doing it alot in the future when Reeves gets an even bigger body, it'll be more like 75/25 rather than lower. or even an 80/20 split.

 

[GerryLewis]

Did well vs Gawn in the stoppage situations so that's a big win.

Needs to really work on improving his overhead marking is the next step, he's a poor mark for someone so tall.

I wouldn't say he's a poor mark. Taken some fantastic defensive grabs at Box Hill and took a couple of beautys on AFL debut. He certainly marked poorly on Saturday but that will improve with confidence. His timing was off but again, more time and confidence and he'll be fine.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

I wouldn't say he's a poor mark. Taken some fantastic defensive grabs at Box Hill and took a couple of beautys on AFL debut. He certainly marked poorly on Saturday but that will improve with confidence. His timing was off but again, more time and confidence and he'll be fine.

It needs substantial work lets put it that way, he has taken 5 marks in 3 games and dropped a few he should have swallowed last night. It was the best we've looked vs Gawn in stoppage situations for years though.

 

[jenniferHAWKinS]

It needs substantial work lets put it that way, he has taken 5 marks in 3 games and dropped a few he should have swallowed last night. It was the best we've looked vs Gawn in stoppage situations for years though.

Nerves and self belief a big factor in dropping marks and punching instead of marking at times. Cegs (too busy looking at the other ruckman) and Big Boy (not having much of a vertical leap) just aren’t great tap ruckman so he is a massive upgrade in that area.