And like that other favourite returning son – JasonAkermanis – the big Spida is expected to receive a warm and friendly receptionby Hawks fans.
But Hawthorn is not making too much of a fuss about the bigbloke’s return, according to football operations manager Mark Evans.
“It’s Hawthorn versus
“Let’s hope he remembers how to hit the ball to our players.”
Trent Croad and Rick Ladson will return to the Hawks line-upfor this week’s match.
The pair was a late withdrawal from last week’sdrought-breaking victory against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
Croad missed with foot bruising, while Ladson was out with aback injury.
They replace Ben Dixon and Xavier Ellis in the squad.
Ellis, Tom Murphy and Josh Thurgood, who has been in nicetouch playing across half-back in the VFL, have been named as emergencies.
The Hawks have only beaten the Swans twice in their past sixmeetings and have not defeated the 2005 premiers during Alastair Clarkson’s tenure.
“It’s another challenge for us,” Evans said.
“We beat Port Adelaide and now we have another challengethis week.”
Evans said the Swans’ greatest strengths are their play atstoppages, their ability to keep shape and the even contribution from theirplayers.
“They play the MCG well and the SCG well. Essendon showedhow you can beat them last week,” he said.
“They are well drilled in their structures and stoppages.”
The Hawks will continue to rotate the captaincy between LukeHodge and Sam Mitchell.
Captain Richard Vandenberg had surgery on his shoulder onWednesday after damaging his collarbone playing for Box Hill Hawks last week.
Respected orthopaedic surgeon Greg Hoy performed theoperation which involved inserting a wire into Vandenberg’s collarbone and connectingit to part of his chest.
“It’s a reasonably new procedure,” Evans explained.
“It will allow him to return to training relatively quickly.He is convalescing at home and we expect him to be back running in 10 days’time.”
Vandenberg will be back in the coaches’ box on the weekendand continue to give direction on leadership to Hawks players.
The team:
B: Brent Guerra,
HB: GrantBirchall, Trent Croad, Rick Ladson
C: Jordan Lewis,Sam Mitchell, Chance Bateman
HF: Ben McGlynn,Lance Franklin, Shane Crawford
F: Danny Jacobs,Tim Boyle, Jarryd Roughead
FOLL: RobertCampbell, Brad Sewell, Luke Hodge
I/C: MichaelOsborne, Joel Smith, Simon Taylor,
EMG: XavierEllis, Tom Murphy, Josh Thurgood
In: Croad, Ladson
Out: Ellis,Ben Dixon
