SUMMARY
Footy is back! But, not quite as we know it!
Hawthorn will kick off the 2018 campaign in the form of the game’s new initiative, AFLX.
The Hawks will face Essendon and St Kilda in the round robin format in the pursuit of a place in the night’s Grand Final.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday, February 16, 6.40pm AEDT
TV AND RADIO:
TV: Live on Seven Two and Fox Footy
Radio: SEN
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME
R6, 2017, St Kilda 19.16 (130) d Hawthorn 8.7 (55) at University of Tasmania Stadium
St Kilda ended Hawthorn’s 19-match winning streak in Tasmania, as they delivered the Hawks’ fifth loss from the opening six rounds.
R1, 2017, Essendon 17.14 (116) d Hawthorn 12.19 (91) at MCG
The Bombers were too strong for the Hawks in this first round clash, as they welcomed back their banned players from a one-year doping ban.
THE SQUADS:
Essendon
- Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Kyle Langford, 8. Marty Gleeson, 11. David Zaharakis (c), 15. Josh Green, 16. Josh Begley, 20. Jackson Merrett, 27. Mason Redman, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 35. Matt Guelfi, 41. Ben McNiece, 42. Adam Saad, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 49. Matt Dea
St Kilda
- Shane Savage, 6. Seb Ross, 7. Luke Dunstan, 8. Blake Acres, 9. Jack Steele, 11. Hunter Clark, 13. Jack Lonie, 19. Sam Gilbert, 21. Ben Long, 25. Koby Stevens, 26. Josh Battle, 28. Tim Membrey, 29. Jimmy Webster, 30. Ed Phillips, 33. Nick Coffield, 35. Jack Sinclair, 37. Bailey Rice, 40. Ray Connellan, 43. Rowan Marshall, 44. Maverick Weller
Read: Hawks' AFLX squad announced
THE TALKING POINTS
- As clubs have prepared for AFLX over the past month, there has been a common consensus around the league that the new game style is fast and exciting. The game demands speed, versatility and transitional running from players and we can’t wait to see how our Hawks squad fits the bill.
- Perhaps the number one good news story for the Hawks’ AFLX debut on Friday night is the inclusion of David Mirra into the squad. Mirra has been a part of Box Hill, Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate, since the age of 19 but now, at the age of 26, he gets an opportunity at AFL level.
- 2016 number one draft pick and reigning Rising Star winner Andrew McGrath is set to see more midfield time this season. Alongside recruit Jake Stringer, McGrath is set to add some speed and power to an Essendon midfield that has long been criticised for being “too slow”.
- Speaking to afl.com.au this week, St Kilda coach Alan Richardson defended his club’s list against talk that it boasted zero A-grade talent. Richardson said that, whilst maybe such comments weren’t unfair right now, he was confident such talent would emerge in the not too distant future. "There's been a fair bit of talk about the no A-graders about our list … all I would say to that is 'yet'," Richardson said.
IT'S A BIG GAME FOR …
Kieran Lovell
Having played just three VFL games in 2017, Kieran Lovell will be determined to make up for lost time when he pulls on the brown and gold jumper this Friday night. The 174cm midfielder has shown promise in his time at the club and, now that he is entering his third year in the AFL system, he will be keen to take his game to the next level in 2018.
