Match Simulation Squads: Key Cats Missing, Hawks Get Big Opportunity
GEELONG will be short-handed for nearly half of its Grand Final lineup in Monday’s practice match against Hawthorn, while two unsigned hopefuls will have a golden chance to win a list spot with the Hawks.
The Cats and Hawks will participate in an unofficial match-simulation at the Kennedy Community Centre on Monday. It’s the first of 18 club-versus-club hit-outs scheduled over the next two weeks ahead of the season proper.
Hawthorn has named former North Melbourne defender Flynn Perez and VFL standout Jack Riding in its 30-man squad, both eyeing one of the vacant list spots before the March 2 signing deadline. Fellow summer trialist Ethan Stanley is not listed in the Hawks’ squad.
As expected, Hawthorn will be without Jack Ginnivan due to a minor finger injury, while Finn Maginness will return to full match play for the first time since suffering a kidney injury last July.
Geelong has held out veterans Rhys Stanley (managed), Mark Blicavs (ankle) and Jack Martin (ankle) from this hit-out, with livewire forward Shaun Mannagh (managed) and defender Zach Guthrie also absent.
Geelong will also be without star forwards Jeremy Cameron (quad) and Tyson Stengle (personal reasons); both are in doubt for the season opener.
Nine leading players across the two clubs—Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes, Tom Stewart and Lawson Humphries, plus Hawthorn’s Blake Hardwick, Josh Battle, Jack Gunston and Tom Barrass—will miss due to their participation in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday.
That leaves just 12 of Geelong’s 23 players from last year’s Grand Final loss taking the field this week.
This will be the first proper hit-out in hoops for new Hawthorn recruit James Worpel, who will face his former teammates, while Tanner Bruhn makes his return after missing all of 2025 due to criminal charges that were later dropped.
With Stanley, Blicavs and Toby Conway out, youngster Will Edwards and versatile Sam De Koning are expected to shoulder the ruck duties for Geelong.
For Hawthorn, with Will Day sidelined again, eyes will be on Connor Macdonald and Josh Weddle as they’re slated for more midfield time in 2026.
AFL.com.au will stream live coverage of the Hawks vs. Cats match-simulation on Monday, with exclusive viewing on Kayo and Foxtel.
Hawthorn v Geelong, Kennedy Community Centre, 1:45pm AEDT
(4 x 30-minute quarters, no time-on)
Hawthorn lineup highlights
- Harry Morrison, Mitch Lewis, Jai Newcombe, Jarman Impey, Nick Watson, James Sicily, Ned Reeves, Dylan Moore, Connor Macdonald, Karl Amon, Conor Nash, Calsher Dear, Jack Scrimshaw, Massimo D’Ambrosio, Lloyd Meek, Mabior Chol, Finn Maginness, Noah Mraz, Josh Weddle, Josh Ward, Josh Battle, Bodie Ryan, Cam Mackenzie, Aidan Schubert, Sam Butler, Oliver Greeves, Max Ramsden, Flynn Perez, Jack Riding, Bailey Macdonald, Henry Hustwaite
- Absent: Tom Barrass, Jack Gunston, Josh Battle, Blake Hardwick, Jack Ginnivan, Will Day, Cam Nairn, Will McCabe, Matt Leray, Cody Anderon, Jack Dalton, James Blanck, Matt Hill, Jamie Uhr-Henry
Geelong lineup highlights
- Jay Polkinghorne, Tanner Bruhn, Mitch Knevitt, Mitch Edwards, Jack Bowes, Jhye Clark, Connor O’Sullivan, George Stevens, Sam De Koning, Jacob Molier, Oli Wiltshire, Hunter Holmes, Lennox Hofmann, Jed Bews, Nick Driscoll, Ollie Dempsey, James Worpel, Tom Atkins, Gryan Miers, Shannon Neale, Oisin Mullin, Ollie Henry, Joe Pike, Jack Henry, Cillian Burke, Mark O’Connor, Brad Close
- Absent: Patrick Dangerfield, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes, Tom Stewart, Lawson Humphries, Rhys Stanley, Jeremy Cameron, Tyson Stengle, Shaun Mannagh, Jake Kolodjashnij, Jack Martin, Zach Guthrie, Mark Blicavs, Toby Conway, Jye Mellor, Harley Barker, Keighton Matofai-Forbes, Jack Dalton, James Blanck
Note: A number of players participated in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday, which explains several listed absences.
