HAWTHORN skipper Luke Hodge is back to take on St Kilda.
Hodge is one of three inclusions for the Hawks’ Round 4 clash against the Saints at Aurora Stadium on Saturday.
GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said Hodge was fully fit.
“Hodgey has been training for the past two weeks, and he’s raring to go,” Fagan said.
“He has been given the all clear by his surgeon, is 100 percent right and is looking forward to leading from the front against the Saints.”
MATCH PREVIEW: Hawks v Saints
Joining the four-time premiership Hawk in the line-up are youngsters Daniel Howe and Tim O’Brien.
Howe returns for his second AFL match this season, while O’Brien comes in for his first senior match for 2016.
“Howey was unlucky to miss out last week, and performed really strongly for Box Hill,” Fagan said.
“He’s someone who can play in defence, but also go through the midfield if needed.
“Tim comes in on the back of some really strong form at VFL level over the past two weeks.
“He’s provided a really strong marking presence inside 50 for Box Hill, and his workrate has been fantastic.”
Making way from the side which defeated the Bulldogs on Sunday are key defender Josh Gibson (hamstring soreness), key forward Ryan Schoenmakers (groin soreness) and Jonathan O’Rourke (omitted).
What happened last time we met St Kilda?
Fagan said Gibson and Schoenmakers’ niggles should only see them miss one week.
“Gibbo and Schoey pulled up sore after our match last week, and with a six-day break, they were just short of being right to play,” he said.
“Both of those players are really important for us, and with back-to-back six-day breaks, we didn’t want to risk them if they weren’t 100 percent fit.”
The Hawks will be chasing their third consecutive win in 2016, while looking to retain the Blue Ribbon Cup.
St Kilda has made three changes also, recalling Tom Lee, Eli Templeton and Blake Acres in place of Dylan Roberton (knee), Jimmy Webster (quad) and Luke Dunstan (hamstring).
ROUND 4 TEAM
Hawthorn v St Kilda
Aurora Stadium
Saturday 16 April, 2.10pm
B: Ben Stratton, James Frawley, Taylor Duryea
HB: Shaun Burgoyne, Angus Litherland, Grant Birchall
C: Liam Shiels, Jordan Lewis, Isaac Smith
HF: Luke Breust, Tim O’Brien, Paul Puopolo
F: James Sicily, Jack Gunston, Cyril Rioli
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge
Int: Daniel Howe, Jonathon Ceglar, Billy Hartung, Will Langford
Emer: Dallas Willsmore, Kieran Lovell, Kaiden Brand
In: Luke Hodge, Tim O’Brien, Daniel Howe
Out: Josh Gibson (hamstring tightness), Ryan Schoenmakers (groin soreness), Jonathan O’Rourke (omitted)
