HAWTHORN has gone with a mixture of youth and experience for Thursday night’s NAB Challenge opener against Carlton.
Thirteen players from last year’s premiership side have been named in the Hawks’ 29-man squad for the match at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, while eight are yet to debut at AFL level.
Assistant coach Adem Yze will take the reins, with the side to be captained by emerging leader and Tasmanian product Grant Birchall.
GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said it was an exciting opportunity to start building towards the 2016 season.
“It’s a good balance of youth and experience in the squad,” he said.
“We’re keen to put a number of our younger guys in around a good number of our premiership players, and we think we’ve achieved that.
“Part of our thinking is that the players start to get enough minutes of game-time into their legs ahead of Round 1. The ability to out-stay the opposition in the first home-and-away game is really important.
“It’s about practicing our structures and game plan, but also starting to identify which of the younger players are going to put their hands up for selection in Round 1.”
The team boasts a wealth of experience in the likes of Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis, Birchall and reigning Peter Crimmins Medallist Josh Gibson.
But with at least four spots up for grabs from last year’s premiership team up for grabs ahead of Round 1 – and an extended eight-man interchange for the match - there’s plenty of young Hawks who will be looking to impress against the Blues.
Off-season recruit Jack Fitzpatrick is set to wear the brown and gold for the first time, as is third-year forward-midfielder Zac Webster, in his home state.
Young defenders Angus Litherland, Kurt Heatherley and Kaiden Brand have all been named, as have up-and-coming forwards James Sicily, Tim O’Brien and Dallas Willsmore.
The squad will be reduced from 29 players to 26 players on Thursday ahead of the match.
SQUAD
Hawthorn v Carlton
Aurora Stadium
Thursday 18 February
7.10pm
| 3. Jordan Lewis | 4. Billy Hartung |
| 5. Sam Mitchell | 6. Josh Gibson |
| 7. Ben McEvoy | 8. Taylor Duryea |
| 10. Bradley Hill | 11. Brendan Whitecross |
| 13. Jonathan O’Rourke | 14. Grant Birchall |
| 15. Luke Hodge | 16. Isaac Smith |
| 17. Angus Litherland | 20. Dallas Willsmore |
| 21. James Sicily | 22. Luke Breust |
| 23. Tim O’Brien | 24. Ben Stratton |
| 25. Ryan Schoenmakers | 28. Paul Puopolo |
| 30. Kaiden Brand | 31. Zac Webster |
| 32. Jack Fitzpatrick | 34. Kurt Heatherley |
| 41. Daniel Howe | 42. Teia Miles |
| 43. Marc Pittonet | 46. Lachlan Langford |
| 47. Shem Tatupu | Coach: Adem Yze |
