NORTH Melbourne has left veteran small man Brent Harvey out of its final team for Friday night's NAB Challenge clash with Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium.
Mindful of the long season ahead, the Kangaroos have chosen to manage the 35-year-old's load and give him a break until at least the March 7 practice game against Geelong at Simonds Stadium.
A Kangaroos spokesperson confirmed Harvey was being rested.
Majak Daw will play his first game of the game for the year and much interest will be on how he and Drew Petrie combine against a Hawk backline missing height and experience with Ryan Schoenmakers, Brian Lake and Ben Stratton all missing.
Trent Dumont and Max Warren have also been left out of the North side.
Hawk skipper Luke Hodge is in for his first hit-out of the year, as is Brad Sewell. Midfielder Alex Woodward, whose game against the Lions last week was his first competitive game for 30 months after two knee reconstructions, will not play against North after being left out of the final team.
Sam Grimley and Luke Lowden will also be missing after being named in the initial squad. Former North midfielder Ben Ross, a rookie pick-up by the Hawks in December, has been named for his first game in the brown and gold.
Aurora Stadium (Launceston), 7.10pm AEDT, February 21
HAWTHORN
Out: Luke Lowden, Sam Grimley, Alex Woodward
Subsitutes: Matt Suckling, Mitch Hallahan
NORTH MELBOURNE
Out: Max Warren, Trent Dumont, Brent Harvey
Substitutes: Lachlan Hansen, Sam Wright
HAWTHORN: Final team
2. Jarryd Roughead, 3. Jordan Lewis, 4. Matt Suckling, 5. Sam Mitchell, 6. Josh Gibson, 7. Ben McEvoy 9.Shaun Burgoyne, 10. Bradley Hill, 12. Brad Sewell, 13. Kyle Cheney, 15. Luke Hodge, 16. Isaac Smith 18. Jonathon Ceglar, 19. Jack Gunston, 20. David Hale, 21. Ben Ross, 22. Luke Breust, 23. Tim O'Brien, 26. Liam Shiels, 29. Will Langford, 31. Angus Litherland, 32. Jonathan Simpkin, 33. Cyril Rioli, 36. Derick Wanganeen, 38. Mitch Hallahan, 46. Kurt Heatherley
NORTH MELBOURNE: Final team
1. Daniel Currie, 2. Brad McKenzie, 3. Ryan Bastinac, 5. Ben Jacobs, 6. Lachlan Hansen, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Daniel Wells, 10.Ben Cunnington, 12. Lindsay Thomas, 15. Nick Dal Santo, 16. Scott Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 21. Luke McDonald, 22. Todd Goldstein, 27. Taylor Garner, 28. Robin Nahas, 31. Cam Delaney, 34. Jamie MacMillan, 35. Aaron Black, 36, Joel Tippett, 38. Majak Daw, 41. Aaron Mullett, 42. Scott McMahon, 43. Sam Gibson
HOW TO WATCH THE GAME
• Subscribe to watch every kick LIVE on your phone or tablet via the AFL LIVE Official App. Weekly passes available from $5.49
• Catch the match replay 12 hours after the siren on AFL.com.au
• Watching overseas? Click here to pick up your free NAB Challenge pass
