The Hawks have opted for experience heading into their Round 7 match, with three senior players brought back into the squad set to face the Demons.
Grant Birchall returns after a month on the sidelines recovering from a fractured jaw, while Cyril Rioli comes back in after missing last week’s clash due to hip soreness.
Brendan Whitecross has also been recalled to the 25-man squad, after impressive performances in the VFL over the past fortnight. The versatile defender managed 28 disposals in Box Hill’s Round 2 victory, before playing a crucial role in defence to get the side over the line against Williamstown last weekend.
The squad will be trimmed to the team of 22 at 5pm on Friday.
ROUND 7 TEAM
Melbourne v Hawthorn
MCG
Sunday 7 May, 3.20pm
B: Grant Birchall, James Frawley, Ben Stratton
HB: Ryan Burton, Josh Gibson, Shaun Burgoyne
C: Isaac Smith, Tom Mitchell, Jaeger O’Meara
HF: Luke Breust, Tim O’Brien, Jack Gunston
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Cyril Rioli
R: Ben McEvoy, Liam Shiels, Luke Hodge
INT from: James Sicily, Billy Hartung, Brendan Whitecross, Kaiden Brand, Will Langford, Daniel Howe, Blake Hardwick
