James Blanck

James Blanck
Blanck in August 2026
Personal information
Full name James Blanck
Born (2000-11-20) 20 November 2000 (age 25)
Original team 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 Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2022–2026 Hawthorn 24 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

James Blanck (born 20 November 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer who last played for 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. Hawthorn list management team kept a close eye on him, where he emerged as one of the best backmen in the VFL.

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 of the 2022 AFL season 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 kicked on in 2023, playing a career-high fifteen games. However, 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.

Blanck never featured at AFL level for Hawthorn again following his ACL injury. He was a part of the Box Hill team that won the VFL premiership in 2026 against Geelong, however, Hawthorn then delisted him four days later.

Statistics

Updated to the end of 2026.

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2022Hawthorn36 90042256715140.00.04.72.87.41.71.6
2023Hawthorn36 150050398929230.00.03.32.65.91.91.5
Career 2400926415644370.00.03.82.76.51.81.5

Honours and achievements

Team

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. ↑ "Hawks confirm five departures as off-season list changes begin". www.afl.com.au. Retrieved 5 October 2026.
  7. ↑ "James Blanck Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 24 June 2022.