Young Hawk Henry Hustwaite's form at VFL level has him closing in on a return to the AFL team as Hawthorn look to cover the significant loss of big-bodied midfielder Conor Nash, who was suspended by the AFL Tribunal after a tackle that went wrong in the Hawks' Round 6 loss.
The Hawks, who are smarting from losses to Port Adelaide in Gather Round and Geelong on Easter Monday, are looking to bounce back into the winner's circle against the Eagles in the Anzac Round clash at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, but will need to do so with a new look midfiel after the loss of Nash and star Will Day over the past few weeks.
With the midfield depth to be tested over the next month with the losses of the experienced pair, Hustwaite's form at VFL level in 2025 will help ease the pain and assist the Hawks in covering clearances and stoppage work.
Hustwaite's three games at VFL level to start the season have seen him banging down the door for an AFL recall for the first time since Round 7 of the 2024 season.
His performances for Box Hill in matches against Carlton, North Melbourne and Geelong have stood out to the Hawks coaching panel, with him being an emergency in three of the six matches to start the season for Hawthorn, as well as flying over with the team to experience Gather Round as part of an extended squad.
After a promising pre-season, where he performed well in the Hawks intra club match, 20-year-old Hustwaite has been stuck behind incumbent midfielders Day, Nash, James Worpel and Jai Newcombe, while fellow youngsters Josh Ward and Cam Mackenzie have been given the nod for AFL experience ahead of him this year.
While he hasn't been able to break into the AFL side so far this season, Hustwaite has used the opportunity at VFL level to work with Box Hill midfield coach Andy Collins and head coach Zane Littlejohn to continue to work on his craft and to become a more rounded player.
Hustwaite, who made his debut in Round 22, 2023, and played four AFL games last season, has produced some incredible numbers at VFL level that are putting him well in contention for a recall to the senior team this weekend.
To date this season in the VFL, he is averaging just shy of 35 disposals and close to 12 clearances per game, and his contested work has been a real highlight, as has his quick hands out of a stoppage, while he has worked hard on his run and spread from contest to contest.
In two out of his three VFL games in 2025, Hustwaite has been named as the 'Stang' of the week, which is given to the best-performed Box Hill player for each match, with his performances standing out to head coach Littlejohn, as well as Hawthorn midfield coach David Hale.
With the loss of Nash from the senior team for the next four matches, Hustwaite's form is hard to dismiss and he looms as an ideal replacement for Sam Mitchell to insert into the midfield mix for this weekend's clash, as he can use his solid 195cm frame to add some presence to the Hawks stoppages and help to combat an Eagles midfield unit that contains the like of Harley Reid and Tim Kelly.
The Hawks will announce their 26-man squad to take on the Eagles on Thursday evening, while the final team will be announced on Anzac Day at 5:00pm (AEST).
