VFL: Ins & Outs For Borough Visit
The Box Hill Hawks welcome back midfielder Cooper Stephens, small forward Jack O’Sullivan and key back Ethan Phillips from injury for the visit of Port Melbourne, while key forward Mitch Lewis will push his case for a senior recall without a minutes restriction.
Stephens hasn’t featured at VFL level since the Hawks’ last-gasp win over Sandringham in round seven and will don the brown and gold for the fifth time in 2024, while O’Sullivan figures for the first time since the round six loss to Footscray and the sixth time overall in what has been a frustrating campaign.
Like Stephens, Phillips hasn’t played since the win over the Zebras in Wonthaggi on account of a knee issue which has limited him to just six VFL games in his maiden campaign as a Hawk.
As for Lewis, the 2018 Box Hill premiership star played the first half of the win over Richmond a fortnight ago only to have his progress halted by the round 13 bye. The Hawks’ no.2 will look to run out a full game this time around and put his name in the mix for return to AFL action sooner rather than later.
Out of the team goes Harry Morrison, who has seen a string of fine performances rewarded with elevation to the Hawks’ senior squad for Sunday’s match in Perth, while Ed Phillips will miss his first match of 2024 with a minor hamstring complaint.
Fellow wingman Andrew Mathieson is the unlucky one, omitted from the side on balance.
Saturday’s match is scheduled for 2:05pm and any changes will be communicated prior to the first bounce.
Those planning to attend are encouraged to make their way to City Oval early so to support our VFLW side in their Elimination Final against Port Melbourne. That win-or-go-home match-up is scheduled for 11:30am.
Ins: C. Stephens, Eth. Phillips, J. O’Sullivan
Outs: H. Morrison, Ed Phillips, A. Mathieson
Squad: 2. M Lewis, 21. C Stephens, 24. D Grainger-Barras, 25. J Ward, 26. B Ryan, 29. J Serong, 32. F Maginness, 37. Eth. Phillips, 38. M Ramsden, 39. J Scaife, 40. S Mitchell, 41. J Bennetts, 42. B Macdonald, 43. J O’Sullivan, 44. H Hustwaite, 45. C Tucker, 52. B Cavarra, 55. C Porter, 57. J Thorpe, 62. S Horner, 68. D Wood, 73. S Amoroso, 99. T Brown
Emg: 51. N Philactides, 56. H Bidgood, 65. A Stefanakis, 72. A Mathieson, 78. K Agosta
