Billy hits flaw running

BILLY Hartung is well aware of his shortcomings.

It is hard to ignore them when told by Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson and North coach Brad Scott in a tumultuous pre-season for the 22-year-old.

After 63 games, Hartung was delisted by the Hawks but is determined to make the most of his second chance with the Kangaroos after being picked up with pick No.77 in last month’s AFL draft.

An elite runner, Hartung has been told to work on his inside game.

He wasted no time proving his athleticism by taking out North’s yoyo endurance test yesterday, going two levels better than runner-up Mitch Hibberd.

Scott was blunt with Hartung before the draft but felt there was more of a role for him with the Roos than Hawthorn.

“No hard feelings with Hawthorn. I think it’s better for me to come to a different club and get some more opportunities,” he told the club website.

“Coming here, I feel like there’s a lot of opportunity here, it’s a pretty young and exciting list.

“It was pretty emotional [after the draft], considering the last couple of months have been pretty hard, not knowing where I was going to be.

“It’s pretty hard being delisted only four years into your career.

“I was talking to the club for the last two or three weeks before I got drafted and we had some pretty honest chats.

“I’ve been really happy with the chats we’ve had, which is why I’m so looking forward to being here.”

Hartung is one of several new faces at Arden St fighting for a Round 1 berth, along with draftees Luke Davies-Uniacke (pick No.4), Will Walker (23), Kryon Hayden (62) and Tristan Xerri (72).

Davies-Uniacke did not take part in training as he continues to recover from turf toe while veterans Jack Ziebell, Jarrod Waite and Ben Brown also sat out.