EX-BRISBANE Lion James Hawksley will suit up for the Carey Park Panthers in 2016.
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The 27-year-old was drafted by Brisbane with the 38th pick in the 2006 national draft.
He played 32 games as a defender for the Lions where he averaged 14.5 disposals and booted six goals.
Carey Park head coach Jamie Nani said Hawksley would bring a versatile style of football with him.
“He can play a bit of every position and will add some strong depth to our side,” Nani said.
“We’re looking forward to getting him out on the park this season.”
Hawksley will be the second former Lion to join Carey Park since 2015, with former teammate and roommate Kieran King sticking around for the 2016 season.
"He (Hawksley) can play a bit of every position and will add some strong depth to our side,”
- Carey Park head coach Jamie Nani
Nani said the players had been “extremely focussed” this pre-season, and have put their sour loss in the 2015 grand final behind them.
“We haven’t even mentioned last season – the boys all look really focussed and eager to get on the park and play good footy this year,” he said.
The Panthers are looking to a mix of youth and veteran talent to boost their ranks this season, following an exodus of players at the end of 2015.
Hayward Medal count runner-up Graham Jetta has returned to Swan Districts in the WAFL, while Brayden Mann, Loki Lawrence, Andrew Rake and Viv Blurton have all departed the club.
But Nani was optimistic about replacing the lost players, with a number of quality reserves players knocking on the door for selection.
“We’ve got some top-end reserves players and a string of good colts kids ready to step up,” he said.
“There are a handful of them ready to play league football.”
Carey Park’s reserves went undefeated in the regular season in 2015 before losing a thrilling grand final to the Eaton Boomers, while the Colts finished in the top five.
The Panthers are also optimistic about the return of junior football to Kelly Park.
Carey Park did not field any junior sides in 2015, but following their 2016 registrations they are hoping to field three sides.
“We’re really keen to get juniors back on the track in a Carey Park jumper,” Nani said.
“It was disappointing not to have them last year and it will be great to see them feeding back into the colts and senior sides again.”
