HAWTHORN has made one change for Sunday’s Round 18 match against Richmond at the MCG.
Tim O’Brien will return to the side in place of defender Angus Litherland who has been omitted.
O’Brien hasn’t played in the senior side for two weeks after withdrawing from with illness prior to the Hawks’ Round 16 clash with Port Adelaide.
The young forward earned his return to AFL football with nine marks, six tackles and three goals for Box Hill last weekend,
GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said O’Brien’s inclusion was about team balance.
“Tim coming into the side enables us some more flexibility and allows us the option of being a little taller in our forward structure,” Fagan said.
“We have a number of guys who can roll through our backline and unfortunately for Gus he is the unlucky man who misses out this week.”
WATCH: Mitchell says milestone a chance to reflect
Hawthorn clash with Richmond on Sunday which will be Sam Mitchell’s 300th AFL game.
The 33-year old was recruited to the Hawthorn Football Club with pick 36 in the 2001 AFL draft after being an important part of Box Hill’s VFL premiership winning side in the same year.
ROUND 18 TEAM
Hawthorn v Richmond
Sunday 24 July, 3.20pm
MCG
B: Shaun Burgoyne, James Frawley, Ben Stratton
HB: Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson, Grant Birchall
C: Isaac Smith, Jordan Lewis, Bradley Hill
HF: Luke Breust, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli
F: James Sicily, Ben McEvoy, Paul Puopolo
Foll: Jonathon Ceglar, Luke Hodge, Jonathan O’Rourke
Int: Kaiden Brand, Taylor Duryea, Brendan Whitecross, Tim O’Brien
Emer: Kurt Heatherley, Will Langford, Angus Litherland
In: Tim O’Brien
Out: Angus Litherland (omitted)
Milestones: Sam Mitchell – 300 games
