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The Hawthorn Hawks are searching for their first win since their Grand Final victory against the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium today. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7.10pm (AEDT).
The Hawks lost their two preseason games against Collingwood and North Melbourne but will look to be getting serious for their last official hit out before the season proper. They have named 19 of last season’s 22 premiership players in their lineup as they try and get game time into their players before Round 1.
Added to the team from last week are Ben McEvoy, James Sicily, Will Langford, Angus Litherland, Jonathan Simpkin while David Hale, Marc Pittonet, Alex Woodward and Daniel Howe have been left out.
While the likes of Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis should be prominent throughout the match, the NAB Challenge is more about the young players.
Getting to see the development and first glimpse of players such as Billy Hartung, Jed Anderson, Sicily and Jonathan O’Rourke will be paramount for Hawks fans.
They will be hoping this new batch of players coming through can push for selection and keep the good times rolling.
This is even more so with the Saints who have been piecing together an impressive group of young players who they hope will form the core of a premiership team in the future.
The Saints are have split their preseason with a narrow loss to Brisbane followed by a comfortable win over Essendon.
Adam Schneider, Dylan Roberton, Spencer White, Lewis Pierce come into the Saints side from last week, while Sebastian Ross, Jarryn Geary, Billy Longer, David Armitage, Josh Saunders and Jason Holmes are out.
Jack Newnes may not be well know at the moment, but looks very promising after his good season last year and his impressive form so far in the preseason.
The Saints lineup will feature some of the top talent from last draft, headlined by no.1 pick Paddy McCartin along with Hugh Goddard and Jack Lonie. They are added to the promising players Luke Dunstan and Blake Acres from the year before.
Tim Membrey will look to impress his new club after moving from the Swans by providing a strong forward option in the absence of Nick Riewoldt.
No doubt the young Saints will want to test themselves against last year’s premiers and this should provide them with a good learning experience.
Prediction:
On paper the Hawks are fielding a very powerful side against the Saints young and inexperienced lineup. In the season proper this would could be a demolition job, however during the NAB Challenge youthful enthusiasm goes a long way, so I expect them to keep it close until the fourth quarter.
Hawks by 30.
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