HAWTHORN will be out to lock in a place among the early pacesetters when it opens round two against an embattled Carlton outfit that needs to respond after an all-time shocking defeat.
Up against a Richmond side many have tipped for the wooden spoon this year, the Blues made a fast start and appeared to be heading towards an easy win when they led by as much as 41 points.
But it didn’t take much for the Blues to be shaken and then stirred by the young Tigers who snatched an improbable victory to leave coach Michael Voss’ side already needing to prove it can live up to the hype.
A quirk of the fixture meant the Hawks had eight points on the board before 11 clubs had even played a game but it is as much the way they have performed that sets them out as one of the teams to beat.
The Hawks are playing with dash and dare that allows them to score heavily as they lay down a marker as a top-four contender.
Rebounding defender Changkuoth Jiath and veteran forward Jack Gunston return for the Hawks for Friday night’s clash at the MCG, in place of the suspended Jack Scrimshaw and Sam Frost (omitted).
Jiath has played just 19 games in the past two seasons due to a series of injuries and missed the first two weeks of this year because of a hip issue.
The Blues have recalled star forward Charlie Curnow, with summer signing Francis Evans dropped.
