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HAWTHORN believes the best is still to come for Ben McEvoy after landing the Dederang-raised ruckman in a shock trade yesterday.
McEvoy, 24, will play for the reigning AFL premier next season after he was traded by St Kilda for livewire Shane Savage and pick No. 17 in the national draft.
Hawks’ recruitment manager Graham Wright couldn’t speak highly enough of the Border product after landing him in a swap few saw coming.
“Ben is a great addition to our list and will complement our centre square unit extremely well,” Wright said.
“He has elite endurance, is very strong overhead and is a high-quality ruckman.
“At only 24, Ben is already one of the competition’s premier ruckmen and we believe he still has significant improvement to come.”
McEvoy played all 22 games this season for the Saints and held down the No. 1 ruck role.
His signing covers the retirement of Max Bailey, who played in the Hawks’ premiership win over Fremantle.
McEvoy leaves the Saints after six years on the club’s list, playing 91 games in the process.
St Kilda coach Scott Watters admitted the decision to let the promising big man go was a tough one but wished the former Murray Bushranger all the best at his new home.
“Ben is a person of great character and someone I hold in very high regard,” Watters said.
“On a number of levels this was an extremely tough decision for our list management committee.
“We wish him all the best for his time at Hawthorn.”
McEvoy was taken at pick nine by St Kilda in the 2007 AFL national draft and was part of the Saints’ leadership group for the past two seasons.
Savage, meanwhile, joins the Saints after playing 15 matches for the Hawks this year.
He was an emergency on grand final day.
“Shane is an exciting player who brings pace and penetration to our midfield,” Watters said.
“At 22, he is approaching his prime and will add another dimension to our developing midfield group.
“We look forward to him embarking on a long career at St Kilda.”