The Hawks will make at least two changes for their blockbuster Easter Monday clash, with Jaeger O’Meara and Kaiden Brand both confirmed to face the Cats.
O’Meara returns after missing Round 4 with a corked hip, while Brand is preparing for his first senior hit out of the year.
With injuries to a number of Hawthorn’s key personnel, GM-Football Graham Wright flagged an opportunity for another wave of players to step up in their absence.
“The only positive from the injuries we’ve sustained over the past few weeks is that we can reward players who have been performing well at VFL level,” Wright said.
“Kaiden has been a strong contributor in the opening fortnight, controlling Box Hill’s defence.
“He is the obvious replacement for James Frawley and we’re confident he’ll come in and play his role.”
Mitch Lewis and Tim O’Brien are also a chance to play their first game of 2019, having been included on the Hawks’ extended squad.
The squad will be trimmed to the final team of 22 on Saturday.
The Hawks v Cats clash looms as an important contest, with the last three encounters between the two sides decided by two goals or less.
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ROUND 5 SQUAD
Hawthorn v Geelong
Monday 22nd April, 3.20pm
MCG
B: Blake Hardwick, Kaiden Brand, Jarman Impey
HB: Tom Scully, James Sicily, Ben Stratton
C: Isaac Smith, Jaeger O’Meara, Ricky Henderson
HF: Paul Puopolo, Conor Nash, Jack Gunston
F: Luke Breust, Chad Wingard, Jarryd Roughead
R: Ben McEvoy, James Worpel, Daniel Howe
INT from: David Mirra, Harry Morrison, Dylan Moore, Jonathon Ceglar, James Cousins, Tim O’Brien, Jack Scrimshaw, Mitchell Lewis
IN: O’Meara, Brand, Lewis, O’Brien, Moore
OUT: Frawley (hamstring)
