Can’t wait! Footy is back and only one sleep away. I don’t know about you but apart from just seeing the boys in the full flight of competition, I think the other exciting thing about round 1 is seeing the new guys, and we have 4. Josh Gibson comes to us after a stellar career so far at North. He will slot into the backline and I see him taking the dangerous forwards that aren’t monsters. He had a rough game against Barry Hall in the NAB Cup, but from all reports, improved in the NAB Challenge. Rhan Hooper comes after a ruff few years in Brisbane. He shows flashes of brillance but trouble off the field and with efforts on the field probably mean he hasn’t reach his full potential.

Then we have the upgraded rookies. Carl Peterson, who we probably saw as a fillin for Rioli, now (to me anyway) looks like the answer to the question “who will replace Willo in the side”. He is 3cms taller and has the speed and leap. Injury/fitness will be the concern, but I think he is a sneaky pick to hold his spot through out the year. Jarrod Kayler-Thompson is a mature age recruit orginially from Victoria but who comes to us after playing well in the WAFL. He looks (even down to carrying the number 45) and plays a little bit like Clinton Young and could fill in that spot for a few weeks.

A quick couple of game notes. It is a replacement game, so Hawks members get in free and the big one, as I understand it, we will be able to go onto the field after the game and have a kick on the MCG. What a great move as long as it happens!

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Anyway, Onto the side:

Hawthorn
B: Grant Birchall, Josh Gibson, Tom Murphy
HB: Brent Guerra, Stephen Gilham, Rick Ladson
C: Jordan Lewis, Sam Mitchell, Xavier Ellis
HF: Michael Osborne, Ryan Schoenmakers, Rhan Hooper
F: Jarryd Morton, Jarryd Roughead, Campbell Brown
Foll: Brent Renouf, Luke Hodge, Garry Moss
I/C: Jarrod Kayler-Thomson, Carl Peterson, Liam Shiels, Matt Suckling
Emg: Taylor Duryea, Ben Stratton, Jordan Williams

New: Josh Gibson (North Melbourne), Rhan Hooper (Brisbane Lions), Carl Peterson (St Mary’s), Jarrod Kayler-Thomson (Perth)

And our oppenents:

Melbourne
B: Jamie Bennell, Matthew Warnock, Jared Rivers
HB: Jack Grimes, James Frawley, Joel Macdonald
C: Aaron Davey, Cameron Bruce, Nathan Jones
HF: James McDonald, Matthew Bate, Ricky Petterd
F: Brad Green, Brad Miller, Jack Trengove
Foll: Mark Jamar, Lynden Dunn, Brent Moloney
I/C: James Strauss, Jake Spencer, Jordie McKenzie, Tom Scully
Emg: Addam Maric, Rohan Bail, Clint Bartram

New: Joel Macdonald (Brisbane Lions), Tom Scully (Dandenong), James Strauss (Oakleigh), Jack Trengove (Sturt)