Jon Ralph believes Jaeger O’Meara could have the same impact that four-time premiership star Shaun Burgoyne made at Hawthorn, after being highly impressed by the 23-year-old’s first pre-season in the brown and gold.
The former Gold Coast Suns midfielder, traded the Hawks in last year’s trade period, was influential with 22 disposals and a goal in his side’s 21 point JLT Community Series loss to North Melbourne at Arden Street on Sunday.
Ralph believes that O'Meara’s performance will please Hawks fans, after questions surrounded the on-baller's long-term AFL prospects after a string of serious knee injuries in recent seasons.
The Herald Sun journalist likens O’Meara’s return from a knee injury to Shaun Burgoyne, who went through a similar process at the Hawks after being involved in a high profile trade away from original club Port Adelaide in 2009.
After missing the first eight games of Hawthorn’s 2010 campaign, Burgoyne has become intrinsic to the Hawks, featuring prominently in their three consecutive flag successes between 2013 and 2015.
Ralph believes O’Meara is on track to potentially emulating his teammate’s successes.
“Jaeger O’Meara shapes up as the 2017 version of Shaun Burgoyne,” he said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“Remember they got (Burgoyne) for a couple of picks within 16 and he missed eight weeks with a knee that they knew he had? He’s missed five games in about seven years since then.”
Ralph says that internally, Hawthorn’s medical staff are highly confident O’Meara’s knee troubles are a thing of the past.
“Hawthorn’s medicos are almost saying to some people “What knee?” he said.
“Of course he’s going to be aware of it, but they’re saying ‘Mate, his knee could not be any structurally any sounder.”
The Hawks gave up pick 10 in last year’s AFL National Draft, used by the Suns to select midfielder Jack Bowes, in addition to their second round selection this year for the highly-talented on-baller, a trade which Ralph believes could be one of the great steals in recent history.
“They gave up pick 10 for him and a 2017 second rounder, which if they win the flag or finish top four could be 40, 42, by the time a few picks come in,” he said.
“They have given up 10 and 42 for a bloke who might be their next captain in a couple of years, who has already hit the ground running and is just everything you want him to be as a footballer.
“It may just be one of the great heists.”
Click here to view Jaeger O'Meara's SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings.
Click here to view Shaun Burgoyne's SEN Inside Football AFL Player Ratings.