HAWTHORN has named its 25-player squad for Easter Monday’s blockbuster season opener.
With six players out of the team that won last year’s premiership, the Hawks’ younger brigade features heavily in the squad to take on Geelong Cats.
Jonathon Ceglar, Billy Hartung, James Sicily, Will Langford, Jonathan O’Rourke, Daniel Howe and Angus Litherland have all been named, while there are two potential debutants in key defender Kaiden Brand and draftee Blake Hardwick.
The Hawks’ squad will be cut to 22 players on Saturday afternoon, and released on hawthornfc.com.au at 4pm.
GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said the squad gave the Hawks plenty of options for Monday’s clash.
“We don’t play until Monday, and there’s still plenty of water to pass under the bridge,” Fagan said.
“We still have a couple of training sessions between now and then, so we still have a bit of time to decide the final make up of the team.
“It’s a well-balanced squad, featuring players who have had a significant amount of game time during the NAB Challenge.
“We feel like we’re in a good position to take on the Cats.”
ROUND 1 SQUAD
Geelong v Hawthorn
MCG
Monday 28 March, 3.20pm
B: Ben Stratton, James Frawley, Luke Hodge
HB: Shaun Burgoyne, Josh Gibson, Taylor Duryea
C: Billy Hartung, Jordan Lewis, Grant Birchall
HF: Luke Breust, Ryan Schoenmakers, Cyril Rioli
F: James Sicily, Jack Gunston, Paul Puopolo
R: Jonathon Ceglar, Sam Mitchell, Isaac Smith
Interchange from: Ben McEvoy, Daniel Howe, Jonathan O’Rourke, Blake Hardwick, Kaiden Brand, Angus Litherland, Will Langford
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