After waiting 190 days since their last dose of brown and gold (with the exception of AFLX), Hawks fans will be eager to see some familiar faces in action when the Hawks kick off their pre-season campaign this Saturday against the Bulldogs. 

Ben Stratton could make his long-awaited return, after missing the back half of 2017 following surgery on a PCL injury sustained in Round 8.

The premiership defender has progressed consistently this pre-season, completing a significant part of the training program since the Christmas break. He was one of the strongest performers in the Hawks’ intraclub in February, collecting 11 disposals and four marks, as well as providing invaluable leadership across the backline. 

Read: Pre-season injury update

Fans may get an early glimpse of Power recruit Jarman Impey, with the versatile forward/defender having shown exciting signs throughout his first pre-season at Waverley. He collected 18 touches and booted a goal in Hawthorn’s intraclub, and was named by Director of High Performance Andrew Russell as one of the standout performers of the pre-season.

Oliver Hanrahan may be rewarded for his impressive showing during Hawthorn’s AFLX round-robin, while 2017 draftee James Worpel also proved he wasn’t overawed on the big stage and could be considered for Saturday’s clash.

Perhaps the Hawk who holds the most intrigue heading into 2018, Jaeger O’Meara could also make his first appearance for the year this Saturday, after watching on in AFLX. 

O’Meara blitzed the recent intraclub hit out, managing a team-high 33 disposals, with no strapping to his knee. 

"It's feeling really good," he said during a press conference on Tuesday.

"I've been able to manage it really well for the pre-season and haven't had any knee soreness.

"I know everyone always gets obsessed with the whole 'strapping on the knee' for some reason, but it actually didn't do too much last year, it was more of a mental barrier that I've overcome now."

Grant Birchall, Jonathon Ceglar, Cyril Rioli and James Frawley have all been ruled out of selection for the club’s first JLT clash.

The Hawks will travel down to Mars Stadium in Ballarat on Saturday morning, ready for a 2.05pm kick off.

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