Lloyd Meek’s glowing first impression of Sam Mitchell wasn’t just about what the Hawthorn coach had to say.
It was who the coach was sitting next to that also stood out.
The then-Fremantle ruckman fielded interest from multiple clubs in the 2022 trade period, but didn't take long to settle on Hawthorn.
Hawks coach Mitchell and his wife Lyndall - who has played a crucial role in helping with recruitment in Hawthorn's new era - flew to Western Australia to meet with Meek and his partner Elonie.
"It was pretty quickly when I met Sam and Lyndall, his wife, that I knew. I could just see his vision," Meek told AAP.
"I've got a long-term partner of nine years. So I think that he had a bit of a secret weapon there in getting Lyndall to come over and chat to El.
"They do such a good job together and Lyndall, as far as I'm aware, isn't getting paid by the club but does such a good job of organising social events for the girls.
"She's very active and together they make a really good team and do it well."
Family values and hard work are important to Meek.
The big man grew up on his parents' sheep and crop farm in Mininera, a farming region west of Ballarat.
"Growing up in the country, I've seen my dad pour his heart and soul into making the farm what it is," Meek said.
"We didn't go on heaps of holidays - you get maybe a week at the beach every now and again - but we never really went overseas on big holidays or anything like that.
"We learned from a young age just by watching that you have to commit to what you want to be successful. That definitely helps build your character."
Meek, 26, certainly needed that character as he ground through just 15 games in five years at Fremantle, stuck behind the likes of Sean Darcy and Rory Lobb.
But he has been a revelation at Hawthorn this year, fighting back from starting the season in the VFL to playing a key role in their charge.
After besting Tim English in the elimination final, Meek is ready to face "a similar story" in former fringe Western Bulldogs ruckman turned Port Adelaide mainstay Jordon Sweet in Friday's semi-final at Adelaide Oval.
"A strong suit of mine is just being able to keep fronting up when you get knocked down," he said.
"I would love to know the stat of how many times I've been put out of the team, or how many times I've been told on a Thursday 'you're just emergency this week'.
"But I'm big on the personal development side of it, and I know that growth comes from adversity and resilience comes from a hard place. So I was able to really lean into that.
"I wish I could go back to my former self and tell me that it's all worth it."
