IT IS official. Hawthorn's Jaeger O'Meara will play his first AFL game in 29 months and Jarryd Roughead his first for 17 months in Friday night's JLT Community Series clash with Geelong at UTAS Stadium.
Both the Hawks and the Cats trimmed their final squads from 29 to 26 players, paving the way for O'Meara to play his first game for the Hawks and his first in AFL senior company since missing all of 2015 and 2016 because of a patella injury while playing for Gold Coast.
Roughead returns after missing all of 2016 first because of a PCL injury and then a recurrence of his skin cancer. He received the all clear to return last December and was shortly afterwards named captain of the Hawks.
There is plenty of interest with the Cats as well. They get their first look at defender Zach Tuohy, formerly of Carlton and key forward Aaron Black, who crossed from North Melbourne.
Brownlow medallist Paddy Dangerfield will follow the same routine as last year by playing all three pre-season games while all eyes will surround Harry Taylor, the long-time key defender who has been moved forward this year to play alongside Tom Hawkins.
Draftees Brandan Parfitt, Tom Stewart, Zac Guthrie and Jack Henry will also turn out for the Cats for the first time, while Jackson Thurlow is back for his first game since recovering from a torn ACL suffered this time last year, and in his home town as well.
Luke Hodge, Jack Gunston, Luke Breust, Brendan Whitecross, Tom Mitchell and Ricky Henderson are the main absentees for the Hawks, while Joel Selwood, Scott Selwood, Daniel Menzel, Jake Kolodjashnij and Lincoln McCarthy will be sidelined for Geelong.
Hawthorn defender Kurt Heatherley will wear No.30 instead of No.34, apparently because his jumper is too tight for him.
Hawthorn v Geelong
Aurora Stadium (Launceston), 7.40pm AEDT, February 17
HAWTHORN
Out: Tim O'Brien, Jack Fitzpatrick, James Cousins
GEELONG
Out: Wylie Buzza, Matthew Hayball, Ryan Gardner
HAWTHORN
2. Jarryd Roughead, 4. Billy Hartung, 5. Ryan Burton, 6. Josh Gibson, 7. Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 9. Shaun Burgoyne, 10. Jaeger O’Meara, 12. James Frawley, 14 Grant Birchall, 16. Isaac Smith, 20. Dallas Willsmore, 21. James Sicily, 23. Tim O’Brien, 24. Ben Stratton, 25. Ryan Schoenmakers, 26. Liam Shiels, 27. Tyrone Vickery, 28. Paul Puopolo, 29. Will Langford, 30. Kurt Heatherley, 32. Jack Fitzpatrick, 33. Cyril Rioli, 36. Kieran Lovell, 37. Blake Hardwick, 40. Kade Stewart, 42. Teia Miles, 43. Marc Pittonet, 46. James Cousins
GEELONG
1. Rhys Stanley, 2. Zach Tuohy, 3. Brandan Parfitt, 4. Andrew Mackie, 5. Nakia Cockatoo, 7. Harry Taylor, 9. Zac Smith, 11. Darcy Lang, 13. Tom Lonergan, 18. Josh Cowan, 22. Mitch Duncan, 23. Aaron Black, 24. Jed Bews, 25. Lachie Henderson, 26. Tom Hawkins, 27. Sam Menegola, 29. Cameron Guthrie, 31. Jordan Cunico, 32. Steven Motlop, 35. Patrick Dangerfield, 36. Tom Ruggles, 38. Jack Henry, 39. Zach Guthrie, 40. Jackson Thurlow, 44. Tom Stewart, 46. Mark Blicavs
