High hopes for Dowler

Key Hawthorn draftee Beau Dowler is set to play his first match of the season after he suffered a fractured pelvis in a car accident last October.

The accident occurred in the lead-up to last year's NAB AFL Draft, when he was touted in some quarters as a potential No.1 selection.

History now shows he was selected by the Hawks at No.6 in that meeting, yet his return to the game is an outstanding effort, considering he was confined to a wheelchair for nearly five weeks after the accident.

Dowler will line-up for Box Hill against the Casey Scorpions - St Kilda's affiliate team - at Casey Fields on Saturday in a VFL reserves match.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson confirmed on Friday at Waverley Park that the young tall forward would play this weekend.

"Beau will play his first game, which is fantastic for him," Clarkson said.

"He was obviously involved in a serious car accident last year, which put his football future in jeopardy, but our medical research suggested he was going to recover well and that's exactly what's happened.

"He's perhaps a little ahead of schedule, in terms of his return to footy, but that's because he's been so professional in terms of his rehab and it's real exciting for him.

"He'll play a bit in the Box Hill seconds this week and he'll just slowly build it up from there, but we're absolutely stoked that he's ready to go."

Clarkson said Dowler was likely to play around a half of football.

"I'm not sure what exactly the medical people have got planned for him, but I'd imagine he'd play a half to three quarters," Clarkson said.

The 18-year-old came was an All-Australian and named in the TAC Cup Team of the Tear in 2005, before he was drafted by the Hawks.