Promising form at reserves level from two Hawks youngsters has been rewarded ahead of the side’s clash with Essendon at UTAS Stadium on Sunday.
Set to make his AFL debut, dashing midfielder Lachlan Bramble has been named in the 25-man squad alongside James Cousins who will make his return after a blistering VFL performance on the weekend.
Having made seven appearances at senior level this year, the 23-year-old Cousins has averaged 18.3 touches and 3.7 inside 50s.
Our seventh debutant of 2021! Lachy Bramble is set to live out his AFL dream
Head of Football Rob McCartney said the club was rapt to unveil its seventh debutant of the 2021 campaign.
“Lachlan entered our program at the start of March via the pre-season supplemental selection period and he’s been able to make some really strong progression in a short amount of time,” McCartney said.
“He caught our eye whilst training with Box Hill over the summer with his line-breaking speed and skill level.
“We picked him up, and since then he’s been able to develop his game further to now be considered AFL-ready.
“Similar to Jai Newcombe last week, he is a really good story of persistence and hard work.”
The Hawks will be looking to record consecutive wins for the first time this season when they take on the Bombers in Tasmania this weekend.
Though, in addition to the four points, McCartney said it was important to also celebrate the ‘little wins’ of the season as the club continues to build towards its next wave of success.
“’CJ’ playing the 20th game of his career this weekend is an example of one of those little milestones that we’re also looking to acknowledge.
“He is just one of our players that has shown some real improvement over the course of the season so far.
“We’re hoping for more stories like his to emerge in the back half of the year.”
Having suffered a hamstring injury in the side’s win over Sydney last Friday night, Harry Morrison has been left out of the squad, while the suspended James Worpel will also miss his first game of the season.
Tyler Brockman, Conor Nash, Emerson Jeka and last week's medical sub Josh Morris have also been named on the extended bench.
The Hawks will name their final side to take on the Bombers on Friday at 5pm.
ROUND 14 SQUAD
Hawthorn v Essendon
Sunday 20 June, 3.20pm AEST
UTAS Stadium
B: Blake Hardwick, Sam Frost, Jarman Impey
HB: Jack Scrimshaw, Changkuoth Jiath, Liam Shiels
C: Will Day, Chad Wingard, Jaeger O'Meara
HF: James Cousins, Luke Breust, Jacob Koschitzke
F: Dylan Moore, Ben McEvoy, Daniel Howe
R: Jon Ceglar, Tom Mitchell, Shaun Burgoyne
Int (from): Josh Morris, Tom Phillips, Lachlan Bramble, Tyler Brockman, Jai Newcombe, Tim O'Brien, Conor Nash, Emerson Jeka
In: Lachlan Bramble, Tyler Brockman, Conor Nash, Emerson Jeka, James Cousins
Out: James Worpel (suspension), Harry Morrison (hamstring)
