By Ben Broad 7:01 PM Thu 28 May, 2009
Liam Shiels will make his debut against Adelaide on Sunday
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LIAM Shiels, the youngest player taken in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, will make his debut for Hawthorn against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Shiels, who turned 18 late last month, will become the Hawks' second debutant in as many weeks after Beau Muston's impressive first-up display in the clash with Melbourne.
But Shiels will have to travel interstate, with the Hawks making at least two changes.
"Oh well, it worked once – why not try it again?" football manager Mark Evans said of the decision to pick Shiels, pointing to Muston as proof the club’s youngsters were up to the test.
"Liam Shiels is going to be a tremendous player … it’s terrific that he can debut this year and get a few games under his belt."
Shiels is completing his studies at Aquinas College in Ringwood and is only 'part-time' in his AFL commitments – training a couple of times a week with the Hawks and the remainder with his school.
"I’m sure there’ll be a big buzz go through there (Aquinas College) tomorrow," Evans said.
Shiels – who has been named on a wing – has played predominately in a midfield role at Box Hill, although he can be used across half-back or half-forward, too.
Premiership player Xavier Ellis will also return to Hawthorn’s senior side this weekend after several standout performances at VFL level, having fully recovered from an early-season foot injury.
However, news of those inclusions has been tempered by more injury woes for the Hawks.
Cameron Stokes has tightness in a hamstring and is likely to miss one or two matches while elevated rookie Garry Moss has suffered damage to a knee that is more serious than first thought.
The talented left-footer limped from the field last week and Evans said he could be set for a prolonged period on the sidelines.
"Garry, as it turns out, has some slight damage to his lateral ligament in his knee and also some damage to where the hamstring joins to the back of the knee," he said.
"He might miss some time with that … he’ll certainly miss a month, maybe more."
Meanwhile, Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge’s adductor strain is improving but will need more time.
Evans forecast that Hodge could still be "a couple of weeks" from resuming.
THE TEAM
B: Brown, Murphy, Guerra
HB: Whitecross, Birchall, Ellis
C: Shiels, Mitchell, Muston
HF: Osborne, Franklin, Bateman
F: Rioli, Roughead, Williams
FOLL: Taylor, Sewell, Lewis
I/C from: Campbell, Dew, Dowler, McGlynn, Morton, Renouf, Tuck
IN: Dew, Ellis, Renouf, Shiels, Tuck
OUT: Moss (knee), Stokes (hamstring)
* New player: Liam Shiels – 18 years old, 183cm/79kg. Selection No. 34 in the 2008 AFL Draft. Drafted from The Basin/Eastern U18.
for hawthornfc.com.au
