Round 3 Ins & Outs

The one-and-one Box Hill tackle the zero-and-two Sandringham tomorrow, with the Hawks’ first travelling party of 2021 set to include a big-name debutant.

Midfielder Josh Deluca – a four-time WAFL premiership player – will don the brown and gold for the first time since joining at the close of 2019.

Deluca, initially recruited off Carlton’s AFL list, had been on track to debut earlier following a stellar pre-season, but was sidelined by a hamstring strain back in March.

The hard-running, contested ball winning West Australian is joined in the 22 by defenders Michael Hartley and Connor Downie, who both return following stints in the Hawthorn match-day set-up last week, as well as Daniel Howe.

The fifth and final inclusion is key position back James Blanck. The Eastern Ranges product featured in the Club’s round one loss to Casey and re-joins the match day squad following a week away, his sights set on a strong showing.

With Damon Greaves acting as Hawthorn’s medical sub on Saturday evening there could be one further change to Sam Mitchell’s final team submission. The 22 who take the field will be confirmed at 2:00pm, half an hour prior to the first bounce.

Patrons at Trevor Barker Beach Oval will be treated to a double header, with the Southern Saints to host the Hawthorn Women from 10am.

As is the case at AFL level, the two clubs will compete for the annual Blue Ribbon Cup, which honours Victorian police officers lost in the line of duty.

In: Hartley, Downie, Howe, Deluca (NEW), Blanck

Out: Bramble (inj – hamstring), Jeka (promoted), Saunders, Horner, E Le Grice