HAWTHORN will field a mostly inexperienced team in Thursday night’s opening NAB Challenge game against Collingwood, Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson has revealed.
Speaking to hawthornfc.com.au ahead of the clash at Aurora Stadium in Launceston, Clarkson said the majority of the squad will be aged under 22 years.
“It’s a great opportunity for these young players, who have put in great pre-season for us, to get a taste of what it’s like against a good opposition,” Clarkson said.
“There will still be some senior heads who’ll play but by and large there’ll be a greater percentage of those who’ll be under 21-22 years of age.”
It means Hawks fans could get their first glimpse at youngsters such as Daniel Howe, Teia Miles and Dallas Willsmore who have already earned compliments from their teammates and coaches this pre-season.
Young key position defender Kaiden Brand is also pushing for his first taste of senior football, as are fellow youngsters like James Sicily, Marc Pittonet, Jermaine Miller-Lewis and Jared Hardisty.
Hawthorn’s NAB Challenge matches are spread out this year – with two 10-day breaks separating the three games – due to the later start for the home-and-away season.
Clarkson says that means the bulk of the senior group won’t appear until closer to Round 1.
“It’s probably more likely the bulk of our senior players will come in for games two and three of the NAB Challenge,” he said.
James Frawley in action during a training session.
With little concern on the injury front, aside from a knee injury to defender Grant Birchall, Clarkson is pleased with his side’s pre-season so far.
But as preparations now ramp up, he’s aware of the precarious situation in which all clubs find themselves.
He says there is still much to achieve between now and the season proper.
“We’re pleased with our preparation to date but the next six weeks for all sides in the competition are the most treacherous weeks of the season,” he explained.
“It’s one thing to be fit to be able to get strong and recover from injuries but you haven’t got the week-to-week bashing into other bodies like you do in the regular season.
“Now that we get into games, it’s a different type of fitness altogether and a very risky period of the year for all players.
“Whilst we’re travelling along ok at the moment, we know we’ve still got a lot to accomplish over the next 6-8 weeks.”
That preparation will go a long way into propelling the Hawks into a position to challenge for the third straight premiership this year.
Back-to-back flags has done little to satisfy the hunger of Hawthorn’s senior group for success and Clarkson says if pre-season training is any indication, the Hawks are ready to launch another campaign.
Led by skipper Luke Hodge and the leadership group, as well as a large group of emerging leaders, there is no complacency at Hawthorn.
“We’ve got a really strong and proud leadership group who have been around the block in terms of AFL footy – they’re very experienced campaigners,” Clarkson said.
“We’ve got another group of older players who have, either at this club or other clubs, are experienced leaders.
“There’s real depth through the club in terms of standards and what we need to set ourselves for throughout the course of the year.
“That has held us in really good stead over the last 2-3 years and we’ve had no reason to expect it’s not going to be exactly the same again in preparation for this season.”
