Mitch Lewis is arguably the most important structural player for Hawthorn as they try to return to top four considerations following last year's preliminary final loss. He hasn't had a full run at a season without injury for a long time, and has had to build his way into this campaign but provided essential contributions to the big win over Geelong. He is the sort of player who becomes invaluable late in games when you need a big bloke to at least halve contest to long dump kicks on rebounds, to provide crumbing opportunities. This is not a recipe for fantasy relevance, however.
Mitch Lewis is arguably the most important structural player for Hawthorn as they try to return to top four considerations following last year's preliminary final loss. He hasn't had a full run at a season without injury for a long time, and has had to build his way into this campaign but provided essential contributions to the big win over Geelong. He is the sort of player who becomes invaluable late in games when you need a big bloke to at least halve contest to long dump kicks on rebounds, to provide crumbing opportunities. This is not a recipe for fantasy relevance, however.
As good as two Hawks?
Named the most promising player at the Peter Crimmins Medal ceremony, key forward Mitch Lewis shone in his second season at the club. He enjoyed a dominant six-week period from rounds 16 through 21 before a shoulder injury prematurely ended his season. Across those six fixtures he kicked multiple goals on five occasions, totalling 13. Lewis has continued to rehabilitate his reconstructed shoulder this preseason, involved in all non-contact drills. The evidence is positive for the young key forward, although the sample size is minimal. Keep him on the watchlist as a potentially rare lucrative key forward, with the proviso that his scoring is likely to be patchy.
Mitch Lewis has been the subject of much angst amongst Hawthorn fans this year, not necessarily from his own form which has been just average for a tall of his age, but for his potential and how Al Clarkson has used him - or not used him, as he did for large parts of the year. Disquiet came to a head when Clarko shifted James Sicily to the forward line while Lewis languished in the VFL, a set up that failed miserably. After trying everything else, the Hawks have now picked Lewis to play him in the ones up forward, and will rely on him even more today with no Jack Gunston.
Who next, Scott Kennedy?
Across two senior matches, Mitch Lewis struggled to make an impact at senior level across his two matches, failing to hit the scoreboard although he did total nine score involvements. At VFL level he was far more dominant, kicking multiple goals in 11 of his 18 appearances. Lewis became a leader amongst the Box Hill forward line during the 2018 season and the upcoming campaign will be an opportunity to bring that form to the highest level. With Jarryd Roughead enjoying the twilight of his career, Lewis has an opportunity to make the role his own though the fantasy implications are minimal.
Lewis worth a duck
Mitch Lewis spent his first listed year as a tall forward developing at Box Hill, starting out as a forward before finishing the year as a makeshift defender. He struggled to make an impact in games and regularly finished with fewer than five disposals. Lewis is perhaps best known for a stand out performance in his junior days, kicking four goals from 33 touches as a ruck-forward. Expect to see Lewis spend most of the 2018 season in the VFL once more, rendering him rather useless to your side.
