Greene back in the big time with Hawthorn
HAWTHORN has handed former Bulldogs forward Fergus Greene a second chance as a delisted free agent after a stellar season for the Hawks’ VFL side.
The 187cm forward, who turns 25 in December, slotted 53 goals for Box Hill in a campaign where he showed tremendous consistency, being held goalless just twice and kicking three or more majors in 11 of his 17 matches.
He has signed a one-year contract with the Hawks after managing five games across four seasons with the Western Bulldogs – all in 2018 – before he was delisted at the end of the 2020 season.
Greene looms as a possible replacement in the forward half for the departed Jack Gunston, given he played a similar role for Box Hill as a hardworking forward who can be a threat in the air and at ground level.
He becomes the latest mature-age export from the Box Hill program with tough midfielder Jai Newcombe and key defender James Blanck also joining the club in the past two mid-season drafts.
It is understood Greene also had interest from other clubs, including Fremantle.
Former Box Hill coach Clint Proctor, who stood down at the end of this season due to family reasons, is thrilled to see Greene get another shot and said he is a worthy pick-up after his standout VFL form.
“He’s put in a lot of great work over the past couple of years. He’s been delisted and now he gets the chance to prove a few people wrong,” Proctor said.
“He’s put in two seasons of really high level with his numbers so it was pretty evident that someone was going to give him a shot.
“He has an uncanny ability to find the goals and he can win the ball in the air.”