EXPERIENCED duo Richard Vandenberg and Trent Croad are welcome additions to the Hawthorn team for Saturday’s grudge match against Essendon at the MCG.

With more than 280 AFL career matches between them, the pair provides much-needed sturdiness to the young and inexperienced Hawks.

It’s a timely return for skipper Vandenberg, who loves the perennial challenge against the Bombers. Vandenberg has yet to play a senior game in 2007 after sustaining a hamstring injury in the NAB pre-season competition.

Vandenberg, lining up for his first game in eight months, proved his fitness to the Hawthorn match committee after undergoing an intensive training program over the past month. The training involved simulating the intensity of match-day conditions.

Croad is back after recovering from a foot problem which has sidelined him for the past three matches.

The key-position player has been forced to reduce his training loads following a stress reaction in his foot. The Hawks are confident he’ll be right for the rest of the season.

Making way for the experienced campaigners are Xavier Ellis and Josh Thurgood.

Ellis, named as an emergency alongside Clinton Young and newcomer Garry Moss, has played the past five games in the seniors and returns to Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.

Punters will have to wait at least another week for the senior return of defender Joel Smith.

Smith will line up for Box Hill Hawks after overcoming a niggling knee injury which has set him back since January. Smith has been on a modified training program since pre-season.

Essendon-Hawthorn clashes are always eagerly anticipated by supporters and this week is no different. Although it does have the added spice of another Sheedy-ism.

The Bombers coach made derogatory comments regarding Alastair Clarkson’s match plan earlier this week. Sheedy said Hawthorn’s use of blocking moves in its forward line were illegal. The comments come shortly after Geelong coach Mark Thompson described the Hawks’ game style as unattractive.

But it’s business as usual at Waverley, according to General Manager, Football Operations, Mark Evans.

“It’s vintage Sheeds, isn’t it? I think we can all recognise what Sheeds does best,” Evans said with a chuckle.

“As with ‘Bomber’ Thompson’s comments, we decided to say very little and I think we’ll do that again.”

“The extra bit of motivation in this game is that both teams start at 3-2 (three wins, two losses). It means that one team has to get a pass mark and the other goes back to the pack.

“We’ve had a good start to the season, and there are some good signs of maturity within the group.

“We are really looking forward to bouncing back for a win this week.”

Evans said the selection of youngster Garry Moss as an emergency was a deserved reward for the keen onballer.

“He’s an in and under-type player and is very clever with the football,” he said.

“He has good intensity in attack and in defence. He is very close to getting a game.”

Moss, 18, played with East Perth at senior WAFL level last season and also captained Western Australia at the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships.