The Hawks’ VFL and VFLW sides are preparing for their biggest challenges of 2018, with both teams coming up against ladder-leading oppositions.

Box Hill will kick off a weekend of footy when they host Casey at home on Saturday afternoon. 

The two sides have already met once this year; A Round 6 encounter that saw the Hawks fall by 39 points.

Currently fifth on the VFL ladder, Box Hill will need to win both its remaining games for a chance at a top four position.

The side will be buoyed by the inclusion of goal kicker Mitchell Lewis, who returns after a fortnight off with a shoulder complaint.

Meanwhile, the Hawthorn women have flown to Darwin in preparation for Saturday’s clash against the NT Thunder at TIO Stadium.

The Hawks are currently third on the ladder, with a percentage of 180, while the Thunder are setting the pace with 213 percent.

Hawthorn has added four names to the mix, including young gun Mikala Cann and AFLW star Pepa Randall.

Read: Hawks make two changes to Round 22 side

Round 20 VFL team

Box Hill v Casey
Saturday 18th August, 2.10pm
Box Hill City Oval 

B: Liam Mackie, Kurt Heatherley, Dallas Willsmore
HB: Will Hams, David Mirra, Changkuoth Jiath
C: Dylan Moore, Kieran Lovell, Jonathan O’Rourke
HF: Oliver Hanrahan, Mitch Lewis, Brendan Whitecross
F: Taylor Duryea, Tim O’Brien, Jackson Ross
R: Michael Knoll, James Cousins, Mitch O’Donnell
Int: Nathan Boucher, Anthony Brolic, Nick Evans, Chris Jones, Brayden Kilpatrick, 17. Tom Maloney, Billy Murphy, Lachie Walker
23P: Sam Parsons

In: Lewis, Parsons, Duryea, Hams, Brolic, Whitecross, Maloney
Out: Burt, Glass, Horner

 

Round 15 VFLW team

NT Thunder v Hawthorn
Saturday 18th August, 4pm (AEST)
TIO Stadium 

B: Chantella Perera, Kim Ebb, Jess Sibley
HB: Ebony Nixon, Meg Hutchins, Jayde Van Dyk
C: Steph Carroll, Julia Crockett-Grills, Tahni Nestor
HF: Olivia Flanagan, Rebecca Beeson, Emily Gilder
F: Tamara Luke, Sarah Perkins, Phoebe McWilliams
R: Lou Wotton, Mikala Cann, Emma Mackie
Int: Rosie Dillon, Dianna Haines, Clare O’Donnell, Emerson Woods
Emg: Samara David, Ellie Macdonald, Pepa Randall
23P: Sarah Kendall

In: Cann, Macdonald, David, Randall
Out: E. Mcilvena