Hawthorn’s newest recruit Ethan Phillips has been given the chance to secure a fairytale Round 1 debut as he takes on the Western Bulldogs’ star tall forwards in Launceston on Saturday.
The 24-year-old defender is auditioning against Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rory Lobb in the final practice match for both sides, after an assured second-half performance in the Hawks’ senior side when the two sides met a week ago at Whitten Oval.
The Bulldogs led by five points after kicking two of the game’s first three goals, with majors belonging to star-studded forward pair Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Aaron Naughton.
The Dogs missed opportunities to put more scoreboard pressure on the Hawks after set-shot misses by Naughton and Lobb.
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Dual premiership Kangaroo David King urged Dogs coach Luke Beveridge to give emerging talls Sam Darcy and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan more responsibility in 2024.
“Luke Beveridge has got, in my opinion, the best set of talls going around that he’s had for some time,” King told Fox Footy’s First Crack season preview. “He’s not going to get a better set than Tim English, Sam Darcy, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton, Liam Jones down back.
“I’m really excited about where they can go with Sam Darcy … It’s time to make, I think, Naughton a secondary or tertiary product in terms of your targets in the forward 50. Give Darcy and Jamarra the reins.”
The Hawks said second-year star Josh Weddle had been managed from the fixture, along with Jack Gunston and Harry Morrison.
“Given this is a practice match, we have decided to take no risks with these players as we eagerly prepare for our clash with Essendon in Round 1,” Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney said on Friday.
This match gets underway at 6.10pm (AEDT) from UTAS Stadium, Launceston.
Live and exclusive coverage of the match begins at 6pm on Fox Footy, via Foxtel (Channel 504) and Kayo Sports.
HAWKS
B: Jarman Impey, Sam Frost, Ethan Phillips
HB: Jack Scrimshaw, James Sicily, Massimo D’Ambrosio
C: Karl Amon, James Worpel, Connor Macdonald
HF: Nick Watson, Mitch Lewis, Luke Breust
F: Jack Ginnivan, Mabior Chol, Finn Maginness
FOLL: Ned Reeves, Henry Hustwaite, Cam Mackenzie
I/C: Jai Newcombe, Bodie Ryan, Max Ramsden, Lloyd Meek, Josh Ward, Blake Hardwick, Conor Nash, Sam Butler
EMER: Clay Tucker, Josh Bennetts, Jai Serong, Calsher Dear
Notable absentees: Will Day, Josh Weddle, Jack Gunston, Dylan Moore, Changkuoth Jiath, James Blanck, Chad Wingard, Denver Grainger-Barras, Harry Morrison
BULLDOGS
B: Lachie Bramble, Liam Jones, Nick Coffield
HB: Ed Richards, Buku Khamis, Jason Johannisen
C: Bailey Williams, Adam Treloar, Harvey Gallagher
HF: Lachie McNeil, Rory Lobb, Cody Weightman
F: Rhylee West, Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan
FOLL: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore
I/C: Taylor Duryea, Laitham Vandermeer, James Harmes, Ryley Sanders, Caleb Daniel, Luke Cleary, Sam Darcy, Oskar Baker
EMER: Caleb Poulter, Anthony Scott, Charlie Clarke, Arthur Jones
Notable absentees: Jack Macrae, Bailey Dale, Alex Keath, Bailey Smith, Caleb Poulter
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Source Agencies
