Round 17 Team Selection
The Box Hill Hawks will return from the bye keen to consolidate a winning run towards September, knowing a win will keep them hot on the heels of the top four.
In the way this week sit the eleventh placed Sandringham, themselves within touching distance of the top eight, in what looms as just another season-defining clash on the road towards finals.
Chris Newman’s ins read positively enough, with experienced senior footballers Brendan Whitecross, Teia Miles, Will Langford, Tim O’Brien and Taylor Duryea joining developing AFL-listed talent Marc Pittonet, Jono O’Rourke, Harry Morrison and Olly Hanrahan amongst those jostling for position.
The side reads as a strong one on paper and will need to be on song to secure a vital four points.
The one name that stands as an outlier is that of four-time premiership star Shaun Burgoyne, who edges towards a return following a recent stint on the sidelines. Whilst his presence in the Box Hill squad is good news – it clearly suggests he’s nearing full fitness – it remains to be seen if he’ll don the Brown and Gold for the senior or reserve side.
With Nathan Boucher having played his allotted four matches as the 23rd man, Harrison Burt has been given his first taste of senior VFL action. Boucher remains in the mix following a string of positive performances and will hope to win himself a place in Newman’s twenty-three.
Hawks fans keen to catch the action can do so on Channel 7, with their broadcast beginning at 2pm.
Ins: B. Whitecross, T. Miles, M. Pittonet, J. O’Rourke, H. Morrison, W. Langford, T. O’Brien, T. Duryea, O. Hanrahan, S. Burgoyne, H. Burt (debut)
Outs: J. Worpel, K. Brand
Box Hill Hawks vs. Sandringham
Saturday, 2:10pm, Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Please note: team to be finalised prior to bounce.
| B | 44. C Glass | 34. K Heatherley | 51. B Whitecross |
| HB | 42. T Miles | 32. D Mirra | 40. H Jones |
| C | 36. D Moore | 46. J Cousins | 35. H Morrison |
| HF | 58. W Langford | 61. T O’Brien | 45. C Nash |
| F | 43. C Jiath | 39. M Lewis | 64. T Duryea |
| R | 56. M Pittonet | 60. K Lovell | 52. J O’Rourke |
| Int | 68. S Burgoyne | 12. C Jones | 29. N Boucher |
| 4. M O’Donnell | 11. B Kilpatrick | 41. O Hanrahan | |
| 10. W Hams | 2. A Moore | 37. J Ross | |
| 50. D Willsmore | 7. A Brolic | 20. M Knoll | |
| 23rd | 16. H Burt |
