VFL Round 5 Selection: wINgard!
The Box Hill Hawks have made four changes ahead of Sunday afternoon’s home game against the Swans, re-gaining ruckman Ned Reeves from concussion, Max Ramsden and Henry Hustwaite from spells with the senior side and, of course, Chad Wingard from the achilles rupture which has sidelined the All-Australian since August.
Wingard will play his first game of 2024 and his third overall for Box Hill, while Reeves, Ramsden and Hustwaite shape as welcome additions to a team sitting three-and-one and looking to consolidate a place in the competition’s top four.
Out of the team go the injured Cooper Stephens and Clay Tucker, while Josh Tovey and Kye Agosta are the unfortunate parties affected by a selection squeeze – though both have been retained as emergencies in the event of any late changes.
Zane Littlejohn’s selected 23 is comprised of 11 AFL-listed and 12 VFL-listed Hawks, including last week’s star performer Max Hall, developing forward Calsher Dear – who has kicked four and three goals in his last two outings – and SSP pick-up Ethan Phillips, who took an incredible 17 marks in the round four win over North Melbourne.
Josh Ward will be keen to press his case for a senior recall with a second successive standout performance. The former top 10 pick was excellent against the Kangaroos, finishing with 27 touches, six clearances, seven tackles and two goals.
Sunday’s first bounce is scheduled for 12:05pm on Sunday, with a special ANZAC Ceremony to commence at 11:45am.
Our final team will be communicated prior to the first bounce.
Ins: N. Reeves, C. Wingard, M. Ramsden, H. Hustwaite
Outs: C. Stephens (inj), C. Tucker (inj), J. Tovey, K. Agosta
Squad: 7. N Reeves, 20. C Wingard, 25. J Ward, 26. B Ryan, 30. S Butler, 35. C Dear, 37. Eth Phillips, 38. M Ramsden, 42. B Macdonald, 43. J O’Sullivan, 44. H Hustwaite, 50. M Hall, 51. N Philactides, 55. C Porter, 59. J Rule, 60. Ed Phillips, 62. S Horner, 65. A Stefanakis, 66. C Brown, 68. D Wood, 72. A Mathieson, 77. B De Bolfo, 99. T Brown
Emergencies: 56. H Bidgood, 63. B Hicks, 71. L Bryce, 75. J Tovey, 78. K Agosta
