Nick Watson's work around centre stoppage has been given the tick from a key Hawthorn figure.
Watson has attended 18 per cent of centre ball-ups in 2026 and although he only averages a centre clearance every second game, his ability to impact in different ways at stoppage makes him a dangerous proposition.
"He's spent a bit of time in there particularly at centre ball ups and he adds another layer," Hawthorn assistant coach David McKay told Zero Hanger.
"You see what he adds from a speed point of view. We've given him opportunities in there, we love him ahead of the ball, but we love him around the ball as well, so if we could find another one that would be good but we love what he brings in there. We just want him to play to his strengths and he certainly does that."
Watson going into the last two centre ball-ups of Hawthorn's thrilling one-point Easter Monday win over Geelong was telling in many ways.
With 94 seconds to go and the Hawks trailing by six, he was at the centre ball-up. Skipper Jai Newcombe won the centre clearance and sent it forward towards Josh Weddle who brought it to ground level. Usually, Watson would mop up at his feet, but there was no-one there, with Geelong able to gather the groundball.
Thankfully for the Hawks, Geelong turned it over and Mitch Lewis kicked an equaliser, then Watson was again backed at the centre stoppage and laid an important tackle on Tom Atkins which led to a rushed kick forward that was intercepted by James Sicily. He transitioned the ball quickly and Hawthorn scored a decisive behind at the death to snatch victory.
The tackle on Atkins wasn't an isolated incident of defensive intent or happenchance, either, with his tenacity to pressure and tackle coming into his game and he has played the sweeper role on occasion at stoppages.
Watson has continued to be backed in the midfield at import junctures throughout the season, but how much can you afford to use arguably the best small forward in the league in the midfield mix?
"He's one of the aces up our sleeve that gives us that (ability to score)," coach Sam Mitchell said of Watson following the loss to Western Bulldogs.
That ability to score is an area the Hawks have been searching for consistency in at a time where their pressure and ability to chain possession has given them plenty of looks.
Only Sydney is better at chaining the ball from the defensive half to forward 50 and while Hawthorn also sits second for generating scores from their defensive half, that has broken down at critical times against Fremantle and Western Bulldogs and plagued them against Melbourne.
"Our ball movement in general has been pretty sound. There has been a few games we haven't maximised our chances in the front half. That has been something we've worked on," MacKay said.
Mitchell is asked almost on the weekly about Watson, but it was a comment following Hawthorn's clash with Adelaide that was a shrewd explanation about what his point-of-difference is which Hawthorn can't afford to lose for extended periods.
"His desire and ability to hit a contest at speed not knowing exactly what is coming the other way is very hard to play against. He's difficult to play on and selfless as well," Mitchell said.
The unpredictability of drop zones in marking contests and areas inside 50 where the ball will go highlights that skillset, whereas the comparative predictability of stoppages means the footy IQ and timing elements of his game which allow him to find time and space inside 50 are not as significant a point-of-difference.
While MacKay noted that he backs the athletic profile of the Hawks' midfield, it is not noted as a blisteringly quick group, so Watson's speed is an important factor when he rotates through.
“It's a question we'll discuss as we progress and his career progresses, he's so creative around goal that I don't imagine he's ever going to spend a heap of time around the ball consistently.
“Down the track, potentially, he's worked hard on his engine, and made significant gains in that so that will be something we talk about and it's obviously a balance because he's obviously very threatening forward half of the ground.”
