Hawthorn will be without six players from 2015's premieship side for their AFL opener against Geelong.
As expected, Cats skipper Joel Selwood will return from injury and boom recruit Patrick Dangerfield will make his Geelong debut in the Easter Monday blockbuster.
The Hawks cut Brian Lake and David Hale after the grand final win over West Coast, while Matthew Suckling went to the Western Bulldogs under free agency.
They have also lost star forward Jarryd Roughead for half the season because of knee surgery, while Bradley Hill and Liam Shiels have wrist injuries.
Their three grand final emergencies - Jonathon Ceglar, Angus Litherland and Billy Hartung - will all play against Geelong.
James Sicily, Jonathan O'Rourke and 2014 premiership player Will Langford also come into the side.
Dangerfield will join fellow recruits Zac Smith (Gold Coast) and Lachie Henderson (Carlton) in playing their first games for the Cats.
The Cats opted not to go with injury-plagued pair Daniel Menzel and Nathan Vardy.
Selwood didn't play during the NAB Challenge because of plantar fasciitis, but had 34 possessions last week in a VFL practice match.
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