Jacob Koschitzke (/kəˈzɪtsk/ kə-ZIT-skee;[1] born 11 July 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Hawthorn Football Club

Jacob Koschitzke
Koschitzke with the Hawthorn Football Club in 2021.
Personal information
Full name Jacob Koschitzke
Date of birth (2000-07-11) 11 July 2000 (age 23)
Place of birth Albury, New South Wales
Original team(s) Albury (OMFNL)
Murray Bushrangers (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 52, 2018 national draft
Debut Round 1, 2021, Hawthorn vs. Essendon, at Marvel Stadium
Height 198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight 96 kg (212 lb)
Position(s) Key Forward
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 20
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019–2023 Hawthorn 48 (54)
2024– Richmond 02 0(1)
Total 50 (55)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 4, 2024.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early career edit

Jacob Koschitzke was born and raised in the New South Wales regional town of Albury and is the cousin of former St Kilda forward Justin Koschitzke. He was a part of the Greater Western Sydney Giants' developmental academy until 2016 when Albury was removed from their zone.[2]

Standing at 196cm tall, the youngster was used as swingman from the Murray Bushrangers, and was rated among the best key position prospects in the 2018 draft. He had an impressive national U18 championships for the Allies which resulted in an All-Australian selection in the position of fullback.

Koschitzke was drafted with selection Pick 52 in the 2018 AFL draft by Hawthorn.[3]

AFL career edit

Koschitzke's AFL career started by playing with the Hawthorn affiliate Box Hill Hawks. Here, under the tutelage of Hawthorn aligned coaches, he spent his first year developing for the rigors of AFL football. A key position player with strong hands and a penetrating kick, he reads the game well. He is composed with the ball in hand and makes good decisions providing defensive rebound.

Koschitzke had to negotiate a difficult COVID-19 affected season. He showed promise during the pre-season games and with scratch matches against other AFL clubs. Later in the year he was moved to the forward line and seemed to thrived. A big pre-season in 2021 and a dominant game at full forward against North Melbourne in which he kicked six goals showed that he was ready for the big time.

Koschitzke played his first AFL game for Hawthorn as part of the trio that debuted in the opening round of the 2021 AFL season against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.[4]

Koschitzke was traded to Richmond following the 2023 AFL season.[5]

Statistics edit

Updated to the end of 2023.[6]

Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Hawthorn 34 0 0
2020[a] Hawthorn 34 0 0
2021 Hawthorn 34 20 27 19 98 65 163 77 37 1.4 1.0 4.9 3.3 8.2 3.9 1.9 3
2022 Hawthorn 23 16 18 8 81 44 125 36 41 1.1 0.5 5.1 2.8 7.8 2.3 2.6 0
2023 Hawthorn 23 12 9 10 56 47 103 39 27 0.8 0.8 4.7 3.9 8.6 3.3 2.3 0
Career 48 54 37 235 156 391 152 105 1.1 0.8 4.9 3.3 8.1 3.2 2.2 3

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours and achievements edit

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "How to say the AFL's trickiest names". Australian Football League. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  2. ^ Bumper Academy Crop, Again
  3. ^ "Koschitzke joins the Hawks".
  4. ^ "ROUND 1 TEAM: Fans set for a glimpse of the future". Hawthorn FC. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  5. ^ @AFL_House (18 October 2023). "Trade paperwork lodged" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 October 2023 – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "Jacob Koschitzke Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

External links edit