Jordan Lewis

Selected with pick seven in the 2004 National Draft, Jordan Lewis famously arrived at Hawthorn alongside Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin, forming a trio that would define the club's golden era. While he lacked the athletic brilliance of Franklin or the physical imposingness of Roughead, Lewis quickly cemented himself as the tactical heartbeat of Alastair Clarkson’s side. He was a central figure in the "unsociable football" brand the Hawks developed, combining elite ball usage on his left boot with an uncompromising physical edge. His individual peak arrived in 2014 when, amidst a constellation of stars, he earned his sole All-Australian blazer and won the Peter Crimmins Medal in a premiership year.

Operating primarily as a hard-bodied midfielder who could drift forward and impact the scoreboard, Lewis was renowned for his spatial awareness and on-field leadership, serving as vice-captain during the club's historic three-peat from 2013 to 2015. However, following the 2016 season, the football landscape shifted abruptly when Hawthorn aggressively sought to regenerate its list. Despite being a four-time premiership player, Lewis was traded to Melbourne, a move driven by the Hawks' desire to clear salary cap space and Lewis's desire for greater contract security.