“Scrimshaw collection that spans a hundred years.”

Hawthorn’s Jack Scrimshaw has described reaching his upcoming 100-game milestone as ‘surreal’. The talented defender, who grew up supporting the club, will achieve this feat in Hawthorn’s clash against Collingwood at the MCG this weekend.

Scrimshaw’s AFL journey began when he was drafted by the Gold Coast Suns with pick 7 in the 2016 national draft. After playing four games with the Suns, he was traded to Hawthorn in 2018, where he has since developed over six seasons in the brown and gold.

Reflecting on his career with Triple M Rush Hour, Scrimshaw discussed his early challenges, including injuries during his junior years, and the transition to Hawthorn where he found a supportive environment among experienced players.

His uncle had also played briefly for Hawthorn, adding to the personal significance of representing the club he and his family have long supported. Scrimshaw fondly recalled his idols from Hawthorn’s golden era, such as Buddy Franklin, Luke Hodge, and Cyril Rioli, and now finds inspiration under the coaching of Sam Mitchell.

Under Mitchell’s guidance, Hawthorn has shown significant improvement, particularly after a slow start to the 2024 season. Scrimshaw highlighted a renewed focus on training intensity as pivotal to their recent success, heading into what he anticipates to be a crucial match against Collingwood.

As Scrimshaw prepares to mark his 100th game milestone, he embraces his role as both an intercept marker and lock-down defender, adapting his game to contribute effectively to Hawthorn’s defensive strategies.