Hawthorn is confident its ruck stocks will hold up in season 2010 despite failing to secure an experienced ruckman during the national draft.

The 2008 premier - which last season became the first defending premier to miss the finals since Adelaide in 1999 - will have only Simon Taylor and Brent Renouf, who himself has played just 23 games, to carry its big man stocks in 2010.

This follows the retirement due to injury of their most experienced big man in Robert Campbell as well as long-term knee injuries sustained by the promising Max Bailey and the untried Tim Walsh.

The Hawks had been expected to take a ruckman with a late pick in Thursday's draft but their main target in former Richmond big man Adam Pattison was grabbed by St Kilda at pick 64, five picks before the selection the Hawks had earmarked for an experienced back-up ruckman.

While the Hawks also had the likes of former Bulldog Wayde Skipper, former Tiger Dean Putt and former Carlton and Collingwood big man Cameron Cloke on their radar, in the end the club decided to top up its ruck stocks by drafting young giant Sam Grimley at pick 39.

However teenager Grimley, who played for the Northern Knights in Victoria's TAC Cup under 18 competition last season, is not expected to be ready to play in the AFL next season.

Hawks list manager Chris Pelchen said he was confident the Hawks would not be caught short for experienced big men next season.

"At the end of the day we are confident Brent Renouf and Simon Taylor, who are now mature-bodied ruckman, can take us forward," he told Sportal.

"We did add to our big man stocks with Sam Grimley coming in from the Northern Knights so we went for a developing ruckman instead."

"No doubt Sam is very raw, he has had limited exposure even at TAC Cup level but he has excellent athleticism and when our supporters see Sam they will be excited with what we have selected."