Jonathon Ceglar
With news that Ben McEvoy is expected to be sidelined for over a month after having surgery on a fractured cheekbone, Jonathon Ceglar will be expected to shoulder the primary ruck burden in his absence. Having played five games this year after missing the entirety of 2017, Ceglar has made a successful return from his extensive stint on the sidelines. But the challenge becomes greater now, especially given Ceglar’s first assignment is Lions ruckman Stef Martin who is averaging 19.5 disposals and 35.1 hit-outs per game.
Luke Hodge
The University of Tasmania Stadium has been Hodge’s happiest hunting ground over the course of his 17-year career. Of the 46 occasions that Hodge has pulled on the boots in Launceston, he has come away with a win 35 times as well as one draw. Saturday will mark the second time that Hodge comes up against the Hawks after his first encounter in Round 9 at the Gabba.
Luke Breust
Coming off arguably the best game of his 176-game career, Breust’s confidence is sky-high as he ventures down to Tasmania this weekend. Collecting 24 touches, eight marks, seven tackles and six goals, Breust was the best player on the ground in the Hawks’ 63-point win over the Western Bulldogs last weekend. It would be a big ask to expect Breust, who sits equal-third on the Coleman Medal tally, to emulate a similar performance this weekend but his potency in front of goal will be valuable against the Lions.
Read: Hawks growing more dangerous, says Punky
Eric Hipwood
The other leading goal-kicker of Round 16, Hipwood will also be backing up a six-goal haul this Saturday afternoon. The Carlton defenders had no answer for the 20-year old who also took a career-high seven marks with six of them inside his forward 50. After a patchy first half of the year, the 203cm forward has booted 13 goals across his last four outings. Hipwood’s combination of height and deceptive speed is what makes him such a difficult match-up and he is certainly one to watch on Saturday afternoon.
Dayne Zorko
Robbie Gray and Dustin Martin are the only other players in the competition alongside Zorko to be averaging over 20 possessions and 1.4 goals per game. After a slow opening six weeks to 2018, Zorko has averaged 24.1 disposals and 1.8 goals since and has kicked a goal in all bar one of his 15 outings so far this season. The reigning All Australian is arguably the Lions’ best match-winner and will be undoubtedly given some attention by the Hawks.
