WITH a top-four position and a finals double chance atstake, Hawthorn has named three inclusions for its round 22 match against theSydney Swans at the SCG.
Playing in the “early” match on Sunday, the Hawks have includedBen McGlynn, Tom Murphy and Travis Tuck into the 25-man squad.
The trio has been named on an extended bench alongsidecaptain Richard Vandenberg, popular 200-game clubman Ben Dixon, handy runningplayer Xavier Ellis and ruckman Simon Taylor.
It’s going to be a tough call for the Hawthorn matchcommittee when it gathers on Friday afternoon at Waverley Park.
Every player was contributor during the team’s entertaining84-point victory against the Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.
Last week’s percentage-boosting win and a victory in the Harbour City on Sunday puts the Hawks incontention for a possible top-three finish if results fall in their favour.
The team could finish as high as second if Port Adelaide andWest Coast lose against Fremantle and Essendon respectively.
McGlynn was a shock omission from the final squad lastSunday and was replaced by Vandenberg who had 12 possessions.
McGlynn, 22, has played 20 games this season and has been abig hit with the fans with his courage, fearlessness and hard-nut attitude.
Tuck and Murphy, both stars for Box Hill Hawks this season,have been on the fringe of senior selection for most of the year. Tuck hasplayed just the one game, his senior debut in round 17 against the Kangaroos inTasmania,while Murphy has managed four games in addition to the eight he played in 2006.
Meanwhile, the Swans have included experienced performersLeo Barry and Lewis Roberts-Thompson, and youngsters Heath Grundy and Tim Schmidt.
The Hawks have lost their past five matches against Sydney and have struggledto combat the Swans’ defensive style, failing to reach 80 points in any ofthose games.
But with their strong form over the past month, the Hawks shouldstart favourites to bag the precious four points and ensure a double chance inthe finals.
THE TEAM
B: Campbell Brown, Trent Croad, Grant Birchall
HB: Brent Guerra,Stephen Gilham, Rick Ladson
C: Chance Bateman, JordanLewis, Joel Smith
HF: Clinton Young, LanceFranklin, Shane Crawford
F: Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead, TimBoyle
FOLL: RobertCampbell, Brad Sewell, Sam Mitchell
I/C (from): BenDixon, Xavier Ellis, Ben McGlynn, Thomas Murphy, Simon Taylor, Travis Tuck,Richie Vandenberg,
In: McGlynn,Murphy, Tuck
Out: -
