Grant Birchall has been named as a possible replacement for the injured Liam Shiels in Hawthorn’s extended 25-man squad ahead of Sunday’s clash with the Bombers at the MCG.
The Hawthorn match committee will again face some tough decisions with Jonathan O’Rourke, James Sicily and Ryan Shoenmakers joining Birchall in the extended squad.
Sicily, picked up by the club in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, would make his AFL debut on Sunday if selected in tomorrow’s final side.
The 20-year-old was impressive for Box Hill last season, starring in their VFL Grand Final loss to Footscray.
Liam Shiels is the only omission from the side who ran over the Cats by 62 points on Easter Monday.
The midfielder is set to miss 3-4 weeks after scans earlier this week revealed a hamstring strain.
Despite being declared fit by GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan on Tuesday, premiership pair David Hale and Matt Spangher have not been selected.
Round 2
Essendon v Hawthorn
Sunday 12 April
MCG, 3.20pm
B: Burgoyne Frawley Lake
HB: Birchall Gibson Stratton
C: Smith Mitchell Hill
HF: Breust Gunston Langford
F: Puopolo Roughead Rioli
Foll: Ceglar Hodge Lewis
I/C from: McEvoy Duryea O’Rourke Anderson Suckling Sicily Schoenmakers
Find out all you need to know about Round 2 match-day.
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