HAWTHORN has cut five premiership stars – including Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis and Josh Gibson - from its final team to face Collingwood in Thursday night's NAB Challenge opener at Aurora Stadium.
Earlier this week Alastair Clarkson revealed a youthful side would take the field for the back-to-back premiers and he has been true to his word, with Paul Puopolo and Bradley Hill also dropping out of the 24 to take on the Magpies.
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The premiership players join skipper Luke Hodge, Brian Lake and Cyril Rioli on the sidelines, although more senior players are expected to take the field in Hawthorn's second NAB Challenge match against North Melbourne in Shepparton on March 8.
Prized recruit James Frawley will wear brown and gold for the first time in a new-look backline. Liam Shiels will captain the young Hawks, who have included five draftees and forward Dallas Willsmore, who is yet to make his debut.
Collingwood has named five first-time players for the club – including bullocking midfielder Jordan De Goey, the fifth pick from last year's draft.
Also pulling on the black and white stripes for the first time are recruits Travis Varcoe, Levi Greenwood and Jack Crisp. And after an injury-ravaged first season for the Pies, 22-year-old ex-Brisbane Lion Patrick Karnezis has also been picked to make his club debut.
Nathan Freeman, another Pie cruelled by injury last year, has been picked for his first official match since the corresponding fixture in 2014. However, draftee Matthew Goodyear is out of the side, as is tall utility Lachlan Keeffe (back/hamstring).
HAWTHORN v COLLINGWOOD
Aurora Stadium (Launceston), Thursday, February 26, 7.10pm AEDT
HAWTHORN
Out: Bradley Hill, Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis, Josh Gibson
Substitutes: No substitutes (running six interchange)
COLLINGWOOD
Out: Lachlan Keefe, Tony Armstrong, Matthew Goodyear
Substitutes: Sam Dwyer, Adam Oxley
HAWTHORN
5. Sam Mitchell, 7. Ben McEvoy, 8. Taylor Duryea, 12. James Frawley, 18. Jonathon Ceglar, 19. Jack Gunston, 21. James Sicily, 22. Luke Breust, 24. Benjamin Stratton, 26. Liam Shiels, 29. Will Langford, 30. Kaiden Brand, 31. Angus Litherland, 32. Jonathan Simpkin, 35. Sam Grimley, 37. Jed Anderson, 38. Dallas Willsmore, 39. Alex Woodward, 40. Billy Hartung, 41. Daniel Howe, 42. Teia Miles, 43. Marc Pittonet, 44. Jared Hardisty, 45. Jermaine Miller-Lewis
COLLINGWOOD
1. Alex Fasolo, 2. Sam Dwyer, 4. Brodie Grundy, 5. Jamie Elliott, 6. Tyson Goldsack, 7. Ben Kennedy, 8. Tom Langdon, 9. Jesse White, 13. Taylor Adams, 16. Nathan Brown, 18. Travis Varcoe, 19. Levi Greenwood, 21. Nathan Freeman, 22. Steele Sidebottom, 24. Josh Thomas, 25. Jack Crisp, 26. Marley Williams, 28. Ben Sinclair, 29. Tim Broomhead, 31. Jackson Ramsay, 33. Patrick Karnezis, 34. Alan Toovey, 35. Jordan De Goey, 43. Adam Oxley, 44. Corey Gault, 45. Jack Frost
