PREMIERSHIP stars Brian Lake and Jack Gunston will return from injury for the Hawks in Saturday’s blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG.
The duo are the only two changes to the side that defeated Carlton by 28 points last Friday night, with defender Kyle Cheney and young forward Tim O’Brien to two to make way.
Lake is a welcome addition to the Hawthorn backline that has been hit by injury this year, after overcoming a calf injury that saw him miss six weeks.
The premiership full back suffered the injury in the 145-point win over St Kilda in Round 7.
Lake will play alongside Ryan Schoenmakers for just the second time in his Hawthorn career, and will likely take the important match-up on dangerous Collingwood forward, Travis Cloke.
Despite early-season struggled, Cloke has hit form in the last three weeks, booting 13 goals in three games.
Saturday’s game will be Lake’s second of the season after also battling a calf injury over the pre-season that further delayed (he had to serve a three week suspension) his start to 2014.
Gunston, meanwhile, returns after missing the win over the Blues with a corked calf.
The forward was withdrawn late from Hawthorn’s selected side last Friday night but will return to add more potency to an already dangerous forward line.
Gunston has kicked 29 goals this year – the third-most of any Hawk in 2014.
Last week’s debutant Ben Ross has been selected after coming on as the sub in the opening minutes of the final quarter last week, while young defender Angus Litherland has also been picked.
Ben McEvoy will play another game in the VFL to further condition his body for the rigors of senior footy, while it appears Ben Stratton will also return via the VFL after missing three weeks with an adductor complaint.
Round 14
Hawthorn v Collingwood
Saturday 21 June
MCG, 2.10pm
B:Burgoyne Schoenmakers Hodge
HB: Suckling Lake Birchall
C: Smith Sewell Hill
HF: Puopolo Gunston Rioli
F: Breust Roughead Ceglar
Foll: Hale Lewis Shiels
I/C: Duryea Litherland Ross Spangher
Emergencies: O'Brien Sicily Cheney
In: B.Lake , J.Gunston
Out: K.Cheney (Omitted) , T.O'Brien (Omitted)
