Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell wasted no time indulging in playful banter with his top-choice draftee Cameron Mackenzie, delivering an "any chance you could answer my calls?" quip as he strolled past the No.7 selection's press conference at Marvel Stadium on Monday evening.
Mitchell's Hawks snatched up the athletic and crafty Mackenzie, who starred last season for Victoria Metro as well as the NAB League-winning Sandringham Dragons.
Mitchell stopped by Mackenzie's post-draft press conference and jested: "Any chance you could answer my calls?"
Mitchell jokingly followed up by saying: "Just come down here when you're finished."
Mackenzie was a consistent and prominent feature of the Dragons' premiership-winning midfield, averaging 24.1 disposals, 3.4 marks, and 3.7 tackles across 10 games in 2022, as well as putting in a dominant Grand Final performance, during which he notched 26 possessions and two goals.
Mackenzie, who performed just as consistently for Victoria Metro over a four-game span at the Under 18 National Championships, will now look to pave his way among a talented Hawthorn midfield group that boasts veteran Jaegar O'Meara and youngsters Jai Newcombe and Josh Ward, and that recently farewelled Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell to Collingwood.
The Hawks, following their selection of Mackenzie at No. 7, traded back into the first-round festivities to nab Josh Weddle, a Vic Metro teammate of Mackenzie's, at No. 18 following a deal with the Swans.
Hawthorn will look to cap their action-packed draft on Tuesday night by securing talent in the later rounds, with its next pick coming at No. 37 after trading away its earlier second-round choice to Sydney to move back into the first round.
