James Blanck

James Blanck
Personal information
Full name	James Blanck
Date of birth	(2000-11-20) 20 November 2000 (age 23)
Original team(s)	Box Hill Hawks(VFL)
Draft	No. 20, 2022 mid-season rookie draft
Debut	Round 15, 2022, Hawthorn  vs. Western Bulldogs, at Marvel Stadium
Height	197 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	93 kg (205 lb)
Position(s)	Defender
Club information
Current club	Hawthorn
Number	36
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2022–	Hawthorn	24 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

James Blanck (born 20 November 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early career

Blanck had spent three seasons at Box Hill, the first year (2020) was wiped out because of Covid restrictions, in 2021 he was coached by now Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell who helped him develop into a dour defender who uses his athleticism to team advantage. ^[1] Hawthorn list management team kept a close eye on him, where he emerged as one of the best backmen in the VFL. ^[2]

AFL career

Blanck was the sixteenth player picked in the 2022 mid-season draft, having made an impression playing for Box Hill Hawks in the Victorian Football League. Blanck made his AFL debut in round 15 2022 against Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. The young defender was immediately tasked with the toughest jobs of shutting down some of the competition’s best forwards. He managed to play in the last nine games of the season.

Blanck's 2024 season was derailed in an intraclub practice match on February 15, 2024, when he ruptured his ACL, leaving him ruled out for the entire season. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

Statistics

Updated to the end of 2023. ^[6]

Legend

G	Goals	K	Kicks	D	Disposals	T	Tackles
B	Behinds	H	Handballs	M	Marks

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)							Votes
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
2022	Hawthorn	36	9	0	0	42	25	67	15	14	0.0	0.0	4.7	2.8	7.4	1.7	1.6	0
2023	Hawthorn	36	15	0	0	50	39	89	29	23	0.0	0.0	3.3	2.6	5.9	1.9	1.5	0
2024	Hawthorn	36	0	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	0
Career			24	0	0	92	64	156	44	37	0.0	0.0	3.8	2.7	6.5	1.8	1.5	0

References

1. "DEBUTANT: James Blanck breaks through". hawthornfc.com.au. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
2. "The Box Hill footy factory delivers another Hawk debutant". afl.com.au. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
3. "Hawks horror show: Backman does ACL, defender injured again". afl.com.au. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
4. "'Carnage': Hawks hitout turns into 'horror' show as star hurt, defender ruled out for the year". Fox Sports. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
5. "Jiath, Blanck injured in Hawks' practice match". ESPN.com. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
6. "James Blanck Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 June 2022.

External links

• James Blanck profile
• James Blanck's playing statistics from AFL Tables