Hawthorn appears poised to regain Brian Lake, the player it missed so badly against Geelong,and will consider selecting another tall back, Ryan Schoenmakers, for Sunday's clash with Richmond.
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Lake and Schoenmakers played in defence for Box Hill in the VFL on the weekend against Geelong and, according to the Hawks, both are fit enough to play at senior level. Selecting both for the Tigers game would be a question of team balance, though the Hawks say Schoenmakers can be used in other roles – including up forward – if required.
Hawthorn football operations manager Chris Fagan said Lake and Schoenmakers were available for promotion, with 32-year-old Lake having completed two matches for Box Hill, while Schoenmakers – who is recovering from a knee reconstruction early last season – has played three games in the VFL.
Fagan said Lake and Schoenmakers ''have enough match fitness to be considered for selection'' against the Tigers, who have enjoyed decisive upset victories over the Hawks in their past two encounters. Lake shapes as the obvious opponent for Jack Riewoldt, who has booted an aggregate of nine goals in those two upsets, but only three of Richmond's 16 when Lake played last year.
The Hawks have been questioned about the decision not to select Lake, in particular, on Monday, when Tom Hawkins booted five goals – including a match-turning three goals in the final quarter – after grabbing seven contested marks. At 198 centimetres and 105 kilograms, Hawkins had a massive size advantage over opponent Kyle Cheney, who is listed at 187 centimetres and 90 kilograms but had successfully covered much larger key forwards such as Jake Carlisle, Jonathan Brown and Matthew Pavlich, with the assistance of Hawthorn's vaunted team defence.
''Neither of them [Lake or Schoenmakers] were ready last weekend,'' said Fagan, who said the pair had played well for Box Hill on the weekend, with Lake playing in a deeper position, closer to full-back, than Schoenmakers.
Fagan said midfielder Liam Shiels, who has improved further this season before hurting the AC joint in his shoulder, would not be available until after Hawthorn's bye in round nine. Veteran midfielder Brad Sewell, who has had a hamstring injury, is said to be another week from resumption.
