It’s just that no one thought there’d be two.

While Ben McEvoy attracted all the headlines after moving to Hawthorn from St Kilda in the off-season, another Border export was quietly waiting in the wings after playing two AFL games in his first year at Waverley Park.

His name is Jon Ceglar and he is the big Hawk that has kept McEvoy, and more recently premiership player David Hale, out of the team this season.

In a twist of fate, Ceglar only got the chance to cement his place in the team after former schoolmate McEvoy suffered a hamstring injury against Port Adelaide in round 10.

Averaging 20 hitouts and 13 disposals a game, the former Wodonga Raider and Murray Bushranger has been a revelation after being promoted from the Hawks’ rookie list.

He has played the past eight matches to take his career tally to 12, taking on some of the AFL’s biggest names in Shane Mumford and Nic Naitanui in the process.

But don’t think for a second that the down-to-earth big man is taking his spot for granted.

“It’s a cliche but it really is one week at a time for me,” Ceglar, 23, said.

“Those guys have got the runs on the board and unfortunately Macca got injured, which gave me an opportunity to take his spot for a couple of weeks.

“He had to earn his spot back, which he did because he’s a quality player.

“For me, they’ve got the runs on the board and I’m just new on the scene. I’m looking at it that I haven’t got a week’s grace and just need to keep performing week-in, week-out.

“I could be out next week — that’s the attitude I have to take.”

Ceglar, whose father David played seven games for North Melbourne in the 1980s, knows only too well there are no guarantees when it comes to the AFL system.

Delisted after two seasons at Collingwood without playing a senior game, Ceglar found himself training with Wodonga Raiders in November 2012 before the Hawks came calling in the rookie draft.

Fast forward 10 months and the mobile ruckman-forward had managed two AFL matches and been a key contributor in the Box Hill Hawks’ VFL premiership win against Geelong.

“The VFL flag last year was a great thrill. For my first senior flag to be at the second highest level you can play was great,” he said.

“It was quite strange because I played in the VFL flag on the Sunday and then had to rock up to training on the Monday for the AFL squad so it was a bit of a different week. It was a buzz to be around the club.”

After getting a taste of the big time, Ceglar was keen for more this year, with a massive pre-season under fitness coach Andrew Russell laying the foundation for his rise to prominence.

“I always thought I would get there eventually,” he said.

“I probably didn’t think I would have this big an impact this early on, but I had a really big pre-season and I guess it’s starting to pay off now.

“Once I played AFL and went back to VFL my confidence grew again because I knew I could play at the higher level.

“The more you play at senior level, the more confident you get in yourself and with that the group gets more confidence in you as well.

“It takes a while to get the confidence of the coaches, but once you’ve got that you can start to string a few games together.”

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has every reason to be confident in the 204-centimetre, 97-kilogram Ceglar.

His best match came in round 15 against Gold Coast in Launceston when, aside from poking Cyril Rioli in the eye with an errant celebration, he dominated the highly rated Zac Smith to amass 37 hitouts, 14 touches and a goal.

Ceglar credited ruck coach Damian Monkhorst with much of his improvement.

“You can’t just be a ruckman these days,” he said.

“I see myself as a much better ruckman than forward but the two years I spent at Collingwood was basically all forward and that really taught me a lot.

“Since I’ve got to Hawthorn I’ve worked on that even more and unless I’m kicking one or two goals a week I’m probably not going to stay in the side too long.

“Monkey is my go-to guy, he’s been a massive help for me.

“He’s been the biggest help to me since coming across from Collingwood by a country mile.”

If master and apprentice share a similar wavelength, it should come as no surprise.

Both are tradies (Monkhorst a plumber, Ceglar an electrician) and both are proud country lads.

Monkhorst refused to move to the city during his playing career with Collingwood, finding sanctuary on his Woori Yallock farm.

A keen fisherman, Ceglar returns to the Border whenever he gets the chance.

He’s a regular on the Murray and Mitta rivers over summer and loves nothing more than reeling in a Murray cod once December rolls around — something that used to drive his junior cricket coaches at Belvoir mad.

“I always had to miss a week of cricket when it got to cod opening. I’m not sure I could get away with that with Clarko,” Ceglar laughed.

Probably not. But his stock with the coach must be rising every day.

Ceglar is looking more and more like one that slipped off the hook for Collingwood.

And a prized catch for Hawthorn.

LIFE AT HAWTHORN:

I’m loving it. You appreciate how good the blokes are that you play with — Sammy Mitchell, Luke Hodge and some of the things Cyril (Rioli) can do are just unbelievable. I’m pretty lucky to come into such a strong, well-drilled and successful team.

HIS TIME AT COLLINGWOOD:

I’ve got no grudges against Collingwood at all. It’s the game these days, it’s a business. Before we played them it was probably the most nervous I’ve been going into a match, but once the ball’s bounced it’s just another game.

HIS TOUGHEST OPPONENTS:

I’d say Nic Naitanui and Shane Mumford. Naitanui is a freak with his jump — he comes from nowhere. And Mumford is just a beast of a man who thrives on the contested stuff.

WHAT TO EXPECT AGAINST THE SWANS TONIGHT:

Their big forwards are playing well, their mids are playing well and they really thrive on that contested footy so it’s going to be a massive challenge. We know what they’re going to bring and they know what we’re going to bring. It will be a finals-like game. Mike Pyke is a big brute of a man. I’ll do my homework on him and try to come up with a plan to nullify his influence.