Following the Hawks’ emphatic 33-point victory over the Giants on the weekend, the senior 22 shapes as a hard group to break into.
Injured players Chad Wingard (hamstring soreness) and Isaac Smith (foot) could bolster that line up even more, but both are facing a race against the clock to prove their fitness in time for selection.
Jarryd Roughead’s performance at VFL will also cause discussion at the selection table, after the former captain responded admirably to his demotion with five goals and 17 disposals.
Conor Glass was also solid through the midfield for Box Hill, finishing with 24 disposals and a goal, while Oliver Hanrahan continues to push for his senior debut, collecting 22 disposals and three tackles on the weekend.
The Hawks, currently ninth, will take on the sixth-placed Tigers at the MCG this afternoon.
A win would likely see Hawthorn climb well inside the eighth, while a loss could see it slip as low as 12th, such is the evenness of the competition.
