Hawthorn Eyes New Debutants as Injuries Create Opportunities
Hawthorn is reportedly considering naming its second debutant of the season in a bid to fill the void left by the injured Mabior Chol. The club is set to host Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium, and with Chol sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the spotlight has shifted to potential new faces.
Aidan Schubert and William McCabe are now in line for their AFL debuts after impressive performances in the VFL this season. Their strong starts have seen them overtake Calsher Dear in the key forward positions. Chol sustained the injury during the first term of a recent game, and while coach Sam Mitchell expressed hope that it might be precautionary, he admitted the severity of the injury was evident from the moment Chol came off the field.
“There’s a small part of me that hopes it was really precautionary and he’s just cramped up or something,” Mitchell said. “But you know when a guy who’s as big and as strong and as powerful as him comes off grabbing his hamstring, then doesn’t come back on, you wait for scans and get a vibe for that over the next few days.”
Rising Stars: Schubert and McCabe
The opportunity for Schubert and McCabe has come at an ideal time. Schubert, drafted with Pick 23 last year from the SANFL, has quickly made an impact in the brown and gold. In his first two games as a Hawk, he gathered 10 and 11 disposals, kicking one and two goals respectively. However, his performance against Casey Demons was a standout, where he managed five goals from 12 possessions and seven marks.
McCabe, another promising talent, has also been making waves. His four-goal effort in Round 1 forced selectors to take notice. As a father-son selection, McCabe was listed in back-to-back games as an emergency but hasn’t been called upon yet. Drafted in 2023 with Pick 19, he followed in his father’s footsteps by donning the brown and gold.
What About Calsher Dear?
With Schubert and McCabe stepping into the spotlight, the question arises: what has happened to Calsher Dear? The father-son prospect has struggled to find his footing in 2026 due to an injury-interrupted pre-season. The return of Mitch Lewis to full fitness and the form of Jack Gunston and the versatility of Chol have contributed to Dear being overlooked.
Dear recently spoke about his prospects of playing senior football on AFL 360. He reflected on how lucky he was to start his career and acknowledged the challenges of competing for a spot.
“If you look at how I started my career, I was extremely lucky and had a really good opportunity,” Dear said. “There are not many players who get that lucky or have that sort of opportunity. I’m not really stressing about it. I’m just doing my time, I’m still developing, still getting better, but I think it’s a pretty good problem to have. It’s not just me that is fighting for a spot, there’s so many players that play alongside me at Box Hill that are AFL ready and AFL level but we’ve just got such a deep list that you’ve got to wait your turn and make most of the opportunity when it comes.”
A Deep List and Future Prospects
Dear’s latest performance saw him kick one goal from 16 possessions and seven marks in his last match on April 5. His non-AFL selection has sparked interest around the competition, especially given the club’s interest in Gold Coast free agent Ben King.
“No. There has been nothing from that article from me or my manager… it’s just a story that’s come out in the paper. I’m enjoying it. I’m developing still, I’m only 20. Look at everything the Hawks have done for me: it’s a really special place for me,” he said on Triple M.
As Hawthorn continues to navigate through injuries and player development, the emergence of Schubert and McCabe offers a glimpse into the future. With the right opportunities, these young talents could become vital components of the team’s success in the coming seasons.
