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“I was looking at it the other day. I have had 18 shots on goal this year, which is pretty high, considering I had only four last year,” said Weddle, a product of Eltham High School and Carey Baptist Grammar.
“The attacking role, and just the way we are playing, has allowed me to have more shots. ‘Sic’ [James Sicily], as well, is having a lot more shots on goal. That is a good thing for us. It is opening up the game. It is not relying on the forwards to kick goals.”
Hawk Josh Weddle initially bemused friends with his celebratory salute after kicking a goal against Carlton.Credit: AFL Photos
When they hit the scoreboard, the social media-savvy Hawks, led by their “rascal pack”, have been searching for ways to one-up each other with what they affectionately call “cellies”.
Weddle, typically, hasn’t been one to dabble in this, but that changed against the Blues when he saluted his major, later voted goal of the week.
“I was just in the moment. As a back, you are not really expected to kick a few goals in a game. I just thought, ‘Why not?’” said Weddle, a talented junior basketballer who represented the Eltham Wildcats on the international stage.
“Some of my mates who weren’t playing were a little bit shocked by what I was doing. They thought it was a bit funny. But after the game they thought it was actually quite cool.”
What was also cool – and fitting – was when the Hawks handed the No.23 guernsey to Weddle ahead of the 2024 campaign.
He has met three of the premiership greats to have worn the number – Don Scott, Dermott Brereton and Lance Franklin – and understands the responsibility that comes with this lineage.
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“When I saw the number was open, I thought, ‘Let’s jump on it, let’s play in this number,’” Weddle said. “Obviously, it hasn’t been much of a backman’s number, but I was like, ‘It’s more about the person in the jumper, not what position he played.’
“I met ‘Buddy’ back in round seven – that was a very special moment. He is a very cool person to talk to, and, obviously, was a very good player in the 23 for the Hawks and Sydney. It’s a big honour to wear it at this club.
“Hopefully, I am doing it proud for all the Hawks fans.”
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