Hawks could hand Rioli the green vest

Cyril Rioli is back ahead of expectations for Hawthorn, and may find himself with the substitute's vest when the Hawks take on West Coast in Launceston.

Cyril Rioli is likely to start in the substitute's vest as the Hawks look to recapture AFL premiership form against West Coast on Saturday.

Ending a winless month with victory over GWS last Sunday, the Hawks have recalled Jordan Lewis and Rioli for the trip to Launceston.

The duo's inclusion is welcome relief for the Hawks, who have been shattered by injury to senior players.

Rioli's inclusion is an eye-opener, after a hamstring injury in round eight.

Assistant coach Cameron Bruce dispelled any notion that the pair was being brought back underdone.

The Hawks said the 24-year-old had been "flying" at training and was ready to resume.

"Our fitness staff do a great job in preparing them and we're very confident they're ready to go," he said.

"When Cyril's available it's pretty hard to say 'Cyril we're not going to play you'.

"When he's ready he gets automatically picked.

"He's played a pretty good role in a vest when he's come back from injury previously so that's something we'll weigh up."

The Hawks will enjoy a reunion with former coach Adam Simpson and premiership midfielder Xavier Ellis, both now at the Eagles, but the most emotional story of the weekend is on their list.

After six years as a Hawthorn player, ruckman Luke Lowden finally gets the chance to debut after being taken deep in the 2008 draft.

A tear-jerker video of Lowden calling his mum to tell her he'd finally been picked has become a hit.

Bruce said it was fitting reward for hard work and patience.

"We thought it was great to see the raw emotion of a guy who's been at the club for a while and gets his opportunity," he said.

Lowden's opportunity comes with the two senior rucks, Ben McEvoy and David Hale, both out with injury.

He'll find the going tough against formidable duo Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox but the Hawks do have one big edge: the location.

If the Power have their "Portress" in Adelaide Oval, the Hawks would be close to renaming their second home "Hawthornceston" after 15 wins in their last 16 games there.

Bruce said local boy and interim boss Brendon Bolton will receive a warm hand from the famously parochial crowd when he becomes the first islander to coach the Hawks on Tasmanian soil.


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Source: AAP


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