James Frawley will play his third game in the brown and gold on Saturday afternoon after being named in the Hawks Round 7 side to face the Demons at the MCG. 

Defender Angus Litherland has also earned a recall to the senior side after solid form at Box Hill in the first three games of the VFL season.   

Frawley returns against his former side after missing four weeks with a pectoral injury sustained against Essendon in Round 2. 

The key defender was initially expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks, but will return ahead of schedule to add some much needed strength to the Hawks’ injury depleted backline. 

Litherland, who has the ability to play on both tall and small forwards, has impressed at reserves level with his closing speed and capacity to find the ball.  

Brendan Whitecross and Jed Anderson have been omitted from the side that lost to GWS Giants in Sydney by 10 points.  

Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Demons will mark a special milestone for Hawthorn defender Grant Birchall, set to play his 200^th AFL game. 

The hard-working Tasmanian will add another achievement to his already impressive resume which includes three premierships (2008, 2013 and 2014), All-Australian selection in 2012 and runner-up in last year’s Peter Crimmins Medal.

Round 7

Hawthorn v Melbourne
Saturday 16 May

MCG, 2.10pm

B: Burgoyne Frawley Stratton
HB: Birchall Gibson Duryea
C: Hill Mitchell Suckling
HF: Smith Gunston Rioli
F: McEvoy Roughead Breust
Foll: Ceglar Puopolo Shiels
I/C: Schoenmakers, Langford, Litherland, Hartung 

Emergencies: Howe, Simpkin, O’Brien

In: Frawley, Litherland
Out: Whitecross (omitted), Anderson (omitted) 

Find out all you need to know about Round 7 match-day.

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