HOCKING, Heath

Heath Hocking was drafted in the 2006 AFL Rookie Draft from the Eastern Ranges with pick 20 and was elevated to the main list in 2007. He gradually gained more games at senior level and was runner-up in the 2010 Crichton Medal Best and Fairest award. Primarily a midfielder, he was also a very good tagger and often negated good opposition players with his close contact.

Injuries restricted him in 2015 and after missing the 2016 season due to the Supplements saga, he struggled to regain regular games and was delisted at the end of the 2017 season.

Hocking stayed on at Essendon as a coach with the James Hird Academy and then joined the Club's VFL team as captain to provide some experience and leadership for the young players.

He returned to play with his old team Mooroolbark, in 2022, while working as a concreter.