BRISBANE could recall experienced defender Matt Maguire to take on Hawthorn’s power forwards after naming the experienced defender in its 25-man squad on Thursday night.
Jarryd Roughead, Lance Franklin and Jack Gunston have formed a formidable trio this season, having all enjoyed games this season where they’ve been the dominant forward on the ground.
Last week, it was Roughead (five goals) and Gunston (five) who top scored for the Hawks, with spearhead Franklin chipping in with two against the Eagles.
Each of the three have kicked 20 or more goals this season, with Roughead leading the Club's goal kicking leader board having booted 36 goals this season. Franklin has kicked 33 and Gunston 20.
With returns like that, it is little wonder why the Hawks are the number one offensive team in the competition, averaging as league-high 110 points per game.
Maguire’s inclusion, if selected in the team of 22 when the squad is trimmed tonight at 5pm, would add an extra option for Michael Voss down back if one or all of the three are starring during Sunday’s match.
Already, the Lions have full back Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull in the side who are capable of playing on the compeittion’s biggest and best forwards, but Hawthorn is unique in that it has up to five tall targets rolling through its forward line at any given time.
Ruckman/forward David Hale will spend time up forward on Sunday, while ruckman Jonathon Ceglar who could make his debut in place of Max Bailey on Sunday is also capable of pushing forward and taking a big mark.
The Lions thus could require Maguire’s height and experience down back to help out what could be an undersized defence.
He has played just one match this season – the Round 1 loss to Western Bulldogs.
Maguire is in his fourth season at the Lions having been drafted to the club after being cut by Saints at the end of the 2009 season.
He has played 145 career matches as a key defender whose reputation as a courageous and selfless player precedes him.
The Lions added Maguire and two others to the squad for Sunday’s match, with no confirmed outs on Thursday night.
Brisbane squad
B: Elliot Yeo, Justin Clarke, Joel Patfull
HB: Daniel Rich, Daniel Merrett, Jed Adcock
C: Mitch Golby, Brent Moloney, Brent Staker
HF: Dayne Zorko, Jonathan Brown, Pearce Hanley
F: Ashley McGrath, Jordan Lisle, Tom Rockliff
Foll: Matthew Leuenberger, Simon Black, Jack Redden
Int (from): Ryan Lester, Matt Maguire, James Polkinghorne, Rohan Bewick, Ryan Harwood, Sam Mayes, Sam Docherty
In: M.Maguire, J.Polkinghorne, R.Bewick
Hawthorn squad
B: Ben Stratton, Brian Lake, Taylor Duryea
HB: Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson, Luke Hodge
C: Isaac Smith, Shaun Burgoyne, Bradley Hill
HF: Jack Gunston, Lance Franklin, Xavier Ellis
F: Shane Savage, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust
Foll: David Hale, Brad Sewell, Jordan Lewis
Int (from): Kyle Cheney, Liam Shiels, Will Langford, Jonathon Ceglar, Matt Spangher, Jonathan Simpkin, Brendan Whitecross
In: M.Spangher, B.Whitecross, K.Cheney, W.Langford, J.Ceglar, I.Smith
Out: B.Guerra (back), G.Birchall (knee), M.Bailey (knee soreness)
