Hawthorn will be without boom recruit Jaeger O’Meara when the team faces the Cats on Easter Monday.
O’Meara sustained a knock to the knee in last week’s clash against Gold Coast.
GM- Football Operations Jason Burt said the Hawks’ medical staff are taking a cautious approach with the midfielder.
“Jaeger copped a knock to the knee in Sunday’s game. We were hopeful he’d get up for Monday’s clash but unfortunately he’s still not 100 per cent,” says Burt.
“Given Jaeger hasn’t played much footy in the past two years, we’re taking a cautious approach with this one.
“We’re hoping it will be a short recovery and that he will be ready to go for Round 5.”
Two-gamer Teia Miles has also been excluded from the 25-man squad, with the pair replaced by Billy Hartung, James Sicily, Tim O’Brien, Daniel Howe and Blake Hardwick.
“It’s really exciting that we’ve got so many young players in the 25-man squad this week,” says Burt.
“Each of the inclusions have displayed solid performances at Box Hill, and it’s great to see them getting reward for their effort."
Read: Match preview
The squad will be reduced to the 22-man team at 5pm on Saturday.
ROUND 4 TEAM
Hawthorn vs Geelong
MCG
Monday 17 April, 3.20pm
B: Shaun Burgoyne, James Frawley, Ben Stratton
HB: Ryan Burton, Kaiden Brand, Josh Gibson
C: Isaac Smith, Tom Mitchell, Liam Shiels
HF: Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Brendan Whitecross
F: Ty Vickery, Jarryd Roughead, Paul Puopolo
R: Ben McEvoy, Luke Hodge, Cyril Rioli
INT from: Tim O’Brien, James Sicily, Will Langford, Blake Hardwick, Daniel Howe, Ricky Henderson, Billy Hartung
