‘This kid is unbelievable’: Josh Weddle has the Hawks dreaming big

If there’s one player who highlights Hawthorn’s attacking ethos heading into Friday night’s elimination final against the Western Bulldogs, it’s Josh Weddle.

Technically a half-back flanker, Weddle, 20, does look to clamp down on his opponent, but the moment there is a chance to counter-attack, the man with the famous Hawthorn No.23 on his back leads the blitz, and looks to score. Anyone who witnessed his booming 50-metre goals from just inside the right boundary against Greater Western Sydney and Carlton can attest to his skill.

“Some of the stuff he does, I just go, ‘Wow,’” Hawks co-vice-captain Dylan Moore said of his mulleted teammate. “He had been doing it all through the pre-season. It’s great he has been able to translate that through the year.

“How he has grown a lot this year is that he has matured a bit with his role. He is predictable now to play with. We know exactly what he is going to do. He is going to put his head in the hole, he is going to go back with the flight, he is going to hit the easy option. He has just become so predictable as a teammate. I love playing with him because of that.

“He is playing such a simple game now, can play on some really good players and beat them. Then he is able to do a few flashes of brilliance, kick a few crazy goals that I can’t kick myself, take a speccy – this kid is unbelievable. He is going to get better and better.”

While Weddle is averaging three fewer disposals a game this year (14 a game) than last, when he was named the Hawks’ most promising player, he is having a greater impact. That was reinforced in the crushing win over the Blues when the endurance beast had 18 disposals, six marks, three goals and six score involvements.

“I always focus on defending first, get my job done,” Weddle said. “If I get my job done, I can attack with the footy, and get handball receives, and open the game up for us.”

In a team that has troubled opponents through its variety of goalkickers, Weddle’s season tally of 10 has added to the headache rivals have had during the Hawks’ stunning rebirth, which has led to 14 wins from their past 18 games.

“I was looking at it the other day. I have had 18 shots on goal this year, which is pretty high, considering I had only four last year,” said Weddle, a product of Eltham High School and Carey Baptist Grammar.

“The attacking role, and just the way we are playing, has allowed me to have more shots. ‘Sic’ [James Sicily], as well, is having a lot more shots on goal. That is a good thing for us. It is opening up the game. It is not relying on the forwards to kick goals.”

When they hit the scoreboard, the social media-savvy Hawks, led by their “rascal pack”, have been searching for ways to one-up each other with what they affectionately call “cellies”.

Weddle, typically, hasn’t been one to dabble in this, but that changed against the Blues when he saluted his major, later voted goal of the week.

“I was just in the moment. As a back, you are not really expected to kick a few goals in a game. I just thought, ‘Why not?’” said Weddle, a talented junior basketballer who represented the Eltham Wildcats on the international stage.

“Some of my mates who weren’t playing were a little bit shocked by what I was doing. They thought it was a bit funny. But after the game they thought it was actually quite cool.”

What was also cool – and fitting – was when the Hawks handed the No.23 guernsey to Weddle ahead of the 2024 campaign.

He has met three of the premiership greats to have worn the number – Don Scott, Dermott Brereton and Lance Franklin – and understands the responsibility that comes with this lineage.

“When I saw the number was open, I thought, ‘Let’s jump on it, let’s play in this number,’” Weddle said. “Obviously, it hasn’t been much of a backman’s number, but I was like, ‘It’s more about the person in the jumper, not what position he played.’

“I met ‘Buddy’ back in round seven – that was a very special moment. He is a very cool person to talk to, and, obviously, was a very good player in the 23 for the Hawks and Sydney. It’s a big honour to wear it at this club.

“Hopefully, I am doing it proud for all the Hawks fans.”

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