573 days since his last game in the brown and gold, Jack Gunston will make his long-awaited return for Hawthorn against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday.
The 32-year-old has been named in the Hawks starting 23, alongside new additions Mabior Chol, Jack Ginnivan, Massimo D’Ambrosio, and last year's Pick 5 draftee Nick Watson, as announced earlier today.
Gunston returned home to the Hawks via the trade period after spending the 2023 season at Brisbane following 211 games and 452 goals, along with three premierships at Hawthorn.
General Manager of Football Rob McCartney said he was thrilled to see Gunston lining up again in the brown and gold.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with how Jack has returned and presented at our club since returning last October,” McCartney added.
“While focusing on preparing himself over the pre-season, his influence and mentorship of several players on our list has been first-class.
“To see him pull on the brown and gold in the number 19 again will be a pleasing sight for both fans and our inner circle at the club.”
Meanwhile in other notable inclusions, co-vice captain Dylan Moore will feature in the line up after passing a final fitness test following his recovery from glandular fever.
McCartney said the lead up to Round 1 was an exciting time of the year for the club, members and fans.
“To get to play against our traditional rival in Essendon only builds the excitement and tension,” McCartney said.
“We head to the MCG on Saturday knowing we’ve put a lot of work into getting better in the off-season and we’ll be looking to see how that translates into our performances in the early part of the year.
“I think it’s important to note that we're still a developing list, we're the second youngest team in the competition in 2024.
“However, we feel that in the past two seasons we’ve laid some good foundations to enable us to perform more consistently as we move forward.”
Saturday's clash will begin at 1.45pm and will be televised live on Foxtel and Kayo.
ROUND 1 TEAM
Essendon v Hawthorn
Saturday 16 March, 1.45pm AEDT
MCG
FB: Jarman Impey, Sam Frost, Jack Scimshaw
HB: Massimo D'Ambrosio, James Sicily, Cam Mackenzie
C: Connor Macdonald, Jai Newcombe, Josh Weddle
HF: Mabior Chol, Dylan Moore, Nick Watson
FF: Blake Hardwick, Mitch Lewis, Jack Ginnivan
R: Ned Reeves, Josh Ward, Conor Nash
INT: Finn Maginness, James Worpel, Jack Gunston, Luke Breust, Karl Amon
Emer: Max Ramsden, Ethan Phillips, Henry Hustwaite
New: Jack Gunston (Brisbane), Mabior Chol (Gold Coast), Jack Ginnivan (Collingwood), Massimo D’Ambrosio (Essendon), Nick Watson
