Ryan Schoenmakers

Recruited from Norwood with pick 16 in the 2008 National Draft, Ryan Schoenmakers arrived at Hawthorn as a promising forward prospect but endured a baptism of fire at the elite level. Following a career-ending injury to Trent Croad, a teenage Schoenmakers was thrust into key defence, where he was often tasked with manning the competition's most dominant forwards before his body was fully developed. This challenging initiation made him a frequent target for criticism, yet he persisted to become a versatile swingman capable of impacting contests at both ends of the ground. His resilience was tested further when a ruptured ACL forced him to miss the club's 2013 premiership, followed by the heartbreak of being omitted for the 2014 Grand Final.

Schoenmakers ultimately cemented his legacy during the 2015 finals series, where his redemption arc was completed on the biggest stage. Playing primarily as a tall forward who provided structural relief, he was an integral part of the Hawks' victory over West Coast, collecting 21 disposals and drifting back to take crucial intercept marks to help secure the premiership hat-trick. However, his final years at Waverley Park were heavily restricted by a nagging Achilles injury that limited him to just 26 games across his last four seasons. He retired in 2019 as a Hawthorn life member, highly respected for his perseverance and his pivotal role in the club's golden era.