BALANCE was a driving reason behind the final make-up of Hawthorn's team selected to play Essendon at Docklands on Friday, football manager Mark Evans said.
While the Hawks couldn't consider Brent Guerra (back tightness), the reigning premiers will welcome back running defender Grant Birchall.
While the Hawks couldn't consider Brent Guerra (back tightness), the reigning premiers will welcome back running defender Grant Birchall.
Birchall hasn’t played since breaking his thumb against North Melbourne in round three.
He is one of three inclusions, with coach Alastair Clarkson opting for extra run by selecting Ben McGlynn – who hasn’t played since round eight last season – and Cameron Stokes.
McGlynn has been in terrific form at VFL level, while Stokes has also impressed at the lower grade but has tasted senior action this year.
Out of the side goes Guerra, Jarryd Morton and premiership ruckman Brent Renouf.
"With Brent Guerra, we won’t risk him this week. He’s just been a bit tight in his back and [coming] off a six-day break, we’ll just hold him back," Evans told hawthornfc.com.au.
"He came off late in the game [last week], so maybe in the last five or six minutes he was just pretty tight … we’ve decided to just be conservative on that one."
Morton and Renouf could be considered unlucky omissions, and Evans admitted the Hawks were searching for the right mix as they enter the middle stage of the season.
"[We’re] probably more bringing it back to a normal, balanced side," Evans said.
"With Brent, we’ve gone in with the three ruckmen in the team the last few weeks but we decided we might get back to a more conventional set up and bring in some smaller runners."
On Thursday the Hawks had flagged the possibility of including up to three premiership backmen, but only Birchall got the nod at the selection table.
While Xavier Ellis (foot) and Stephen Gilham (knee) are at least another week away from senior action, Ellis will resume with VFL affiliate Box Hill.
"He has progressed enormously over the last week and half to two weeks, so it’s good to get him back out there," Evans said.
Evans was uncertain exactly where and when Gilham would return but said the full-back, who trained earlier in the day, was making progress.
"We’d think that Stephen would be a pretty good chance to play next week," he said.
Round seven
Essendon v Hawthorn
Friday May 8
7.40pm, Docklands
Team
B: Osborne, Murphy, Birchall
HB: Dew, Hodge, Dowler
C: Tuck, Mitchell, Lewis
HF: Moss, Franklin, Rioli
F: Brown, Roughead, Williams
FOLL: Taylor, Sewell, Bateman
I/C: Campbell, McGlynn, Stokes, Whitecross
EMG: Kennedy, Morton, Renouf
IN: Birchall, McGlynn, Stokes
OUT: Guerra (back), Morton (omitted), Renouf (omitted)
