HAWTHORN will be without stars Luke Hodge and Lance Franklin for tomorrow night’s clash against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium after making three changes at selection on Thursday night.
Hodge (thumb) and Franklin (hamstring) join Jonathon Ceglar on the sidelines, with the young ruckman omitted for the clash.
The trio have been replaced by Jonathan Simpkin, Sam Grimley and Matt Spangher.
Hodge injured his thumb in the final quarter against Richmond last weekend and could be back for next Friday night’s match against Collingwood, depending on how the injury reacts to successful reparative surgery.
Franklin on the other hand underwent a fitness test on Thursday morning but wasn’t cleared to play, with his tight hamstring. He could also be available for the Collingwood blockbuster at the MCG.
Midfielder Simpkin was surprisingly dropped for last weekend’s game against Richmond despite a solid 20 disposal performance in the win over Essendon in Round 19.
Simpkin played for the Club’s VFL affiliate, Box Hill last Saturday and starred by collecting 25 possessions, earning him a senior recall.
Grimley has been in impressive form for Box Hill of late and has been given another chance by Alastair Clarkson to push his case for a finals berth in a month’s time.
Spangher will play his second game for the Club and could play up forward as a replacement for Franklin.
The versatile big man can play at both ends - having played defence at former club West Coast and forward for Sydney.
Round 20 team
FB: Stratton Lake Guerra
HB: Sewell Gibson Duryea
C: Smith Mitchell Hill
HF: Whitecross Gunston Savage
FF: Burgoyne Roughead Rioli
Rucks: Hale, Lewis, Puopolo
IC: Breust, Spangher, Simpkin, Grimley
EM: Cheney, Ceglar, Anderson
IN: Spangher, Simpkin, Grimley
OUT: Franklin (hamstring soreness), Hodge (thumb), Ceglar (omitted)
