STILL smarting from its morale-crushing defeat toPort Adelaide last week, Hawthorn has included three players, including captainRichard Vandenberg, for the round 21 match against Western Bulldogs at TelstraDome on Sunday.
Vandenberg is a major boost for the young Hawks,which lost last Sunday’s match in the dying moments after a 16-pointthree-quarter time lead.
His composure, experience and positive attitude are vitalingredients as the Hawks push for their first finals campaign since 2001.
Thomas Murphy and Travis Tuck are the two other playersnamed in the 25-man squad.
XavierEllis, Ben McGlynn, Murphy, Simon Taylor, Tuck, Vandenberg and Clinton Young havebeen selected on an extended bench.
Vandenberg injured his knee in the first half of theround 19 victory against Brisbaneand has convinced enough on the training track this week that he is ready toresume after an injury-interrupted season.
Hawthorn’s last victory against the Bulldogs was inround 19, 2004 under caretaker coach Donald McDonald.
The Bulldogs’ speed and intensity at the ball havelong troubled the fourth-placed Hawks, but with a double-chance at stake, andfinals looming, the visitors will not let things slip at the Dome.
The club will also be out to impress in its finalhome and away match in Melbourneand celebration of Ben Dixon’s 200th AFL career match.
The team
B: Brown, Gilham, Birchall
HB: Guerra, Croad, Ladson
C: Bateman, Hodge, Smith
HF: Lewis, Franklin,Crawford
F: Dixon,Roughead, Boyle
FOLL: Campbell, Sewell, Mitchell
I/C: Ellis, McGlynn, Murphy, Taylor,Tuck, Vandenberg, Young
In: Murphy, Tuck, Vandenberg
