Peterson making his mark for Hawks

Kununurra's Carl Peterson starred in Hawthorn’s loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 2 of the AFL’s NAB Cup last Friday.

Peterson, who schooled at Kununurra District High School and played a season for the Ord River Magpies, took four marks and had 13 disposals in his first senior hit-out for the Hawks.

Hawthorn Football Club spokesman Clinton Bown said Peterson performed well despite the club’s 57- point loss to the Bulldogs at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.

“Carl had a good introduction into top level AFL football and performed as we would have expected, given the determination to task he has shown throughout the preseason,” he said.

Bown said Peterson’s leap and ability to control the ball at ground level had impressed coaches.

“If he can keep himself fit and on the park he will certainly be looked at throughout the year,” he said.

Twenty-two-year-old Peterson was picked up by the Hawks in the December 2008 draft after being delisted by his first AFL club Richmond in 2007. He was placed on the Hawks’ rookie list last year and played a handful of games for the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL, but struggled with injuries. He remains on Hawthorn’s rookie list.

“Carl’s main focus needs to be to getting himself completely conditioned and prepared for the rigours of an AFL season given an injury interrupted 2009,” Bown said.

“He has certainly shown over the pre-season he has the desire and potentially the talent to warrant a closer look (by senior coaches) in 2010.”

Rookie players are eligible to play in the pre-season competition, but can only be promoted to the senior list to replace a retiring or injured senior player.

By NATHAN DYER