Conor Nash’s move into Hawthorn’s midfield worked wonders in Sunday’s upset win over finals-bound Brisbane in Tasmania.
The 23-year-old, who stands at 197cm and weighs 93kg, collected 23 disposals, laid nine tackles and won seven clearances in a career-best performance.
Nash boosted his chances of earning a contract extension with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season.
Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton credited coach-in-waiting Sam Mitchell for shifting the Irishman into the midfield.
“The boy Conor Nash has only ever played as a pressure forward – nowhere else in senior footy,” Brereton told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“Sam Mitchell at Box Hill plays him as a big on-baller – he had seven clearances on the weekend playing on-ball.
“That’s Sam Mitchell’s player going in there.
“Whether Sam’s got to Alastair (Clarkson) and said, ‘this is the way I want to go forward, let’s have a look at him there’ and Alastair agrees, or Alastair says, ‘you put them out there’.
“I think it’s Sam pleading the case with Alastair at this point in time.”
Nash has made just four senior appearances this season, taking his career games tally to 25 since debuting in 2018.