Hawthorn are set to make at least three changes for Monday's meeting with Geelong as a veteran forward and ruckman make way in Sam Mitchell's plans following a winless first two weeks.
Sharpshooter Jack Gunston has been joined by ruck Ned Reeves and midfielder Finn Maginness in featuring for Box Hill in the VFL on Saturday morning, with the trio set to be omitted from the side that lost to Melbourne last weekend.
Gunston started as the sub in the Round 2 defeat and managed just the two disposals in 42% time on ground.
Reeves struggled up against Melbourne captain Max Gawn, while Maginness couldn't have his defensive impact in Mitchell's engine room
The trio of outs are set to open the door for a number of fringe Hawks, with young midfielder Henry Hutwaite likely to earn a recall following a sharp start to his VFL season.
The second-year onballer collected 24 disposals, eight clearances and nine tackles in Box Hill's season-opening win over Casey last Sunday, with Mitchell again signing the teenager's praises earlier in the week.
"There'll certainly be some changes to the side this week,โ the Hawks coach said on Thursday.
"Hustwaite) has been in really good form, we'll (sort) selection in the next couple of days, but he should be feeling like he deserves a game."
Former Fremantle big man Lloyd Meek looms as Reeves' likely replacement, while young ruck-forward Max Ramsden could also be called on to aid Mitchell's front third.
Meek looks set to carry the Hawks' ruck workload and could come up against young Geelong tall Toby Conway, who also won't feature in the VFL as first-string ruckman Rhys Stanley remains uncertain to play at the MCG on Monday due to a potential knee injury.
The key position pairing of Meek and Ramsden, along with Hustwaite and Harry Morrison, won't feature for Box Hill against the Cats' VFL unit on Saturday and instead will likely be part of Hawthorn's extended squad for Easter Monday.
While without some of their leading players in Hustwaite and Morrison from last week's win, Box Hill have regained returning young AFL-listed pair Jack O'Sullivan and Cooper Stephens from injury.
Their returns come as James Parsons prepares to miss the remainder of the season following Achilles surgery. The former Geelong midfielder only recently made his return to the field from a knee reconstruction that curtailed his 2023 season.
Geelong and Hawthorn's 23-man squads will be named at 6:20pm (AEDT) on Sunday.
