Match Simulation Squads: Cats’ Stars Missing, Hawks Get Big Opportunity
Geelong will be missing nearly half of its Grand Final lineup for Monday’s hit-out with Hawthorn, while two unsigned hopefuls will get a galling chance to push onto the Hawks’ list.
The Cats and Hawks will contest an unofficial match-simulation on Monday at the Kennedy Community Centre. It’s the first of 18 club-v-club hit-outs over the next two weeks ahead of the season proper.
Hawthorn has named former North Melbourne player Flynn Perez and VFL standout Jack Riding in its 30-man squad, both hoping to secure one of the vacant list spots before the March 2 signing deadline. Fellow summer trialist Ethan Stanley has not been named in the Hawthorn squad.
As anticipated, Hawthorn will be without Jack Ginnivan due to a minor finger injury, while Finn Maginness will play a proper match for the first time since tearing his kidney last July.
Geelong will rest veteran Rhys Stanley (managed), Mark Blicavs (ankle) and Jack Martin (ankle). Livewire forward Shaun Mannagh (managed) and defender Zach Guthrie are also missing.
Additionally, Geelong will be without stars Jeremy Cameron (quad) and Tyson Stengle (personal reasons), leaving their start-to-season status in doubt.
Nine leading players across both 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 also miss action after participating in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday.
That means only 12 of Geelong’s 23 from last year’s Grand Final defeat will feature in this hit-out.
The match will mark the real debut of recruit James Worpel in the hoops, going up against his former Hawthorn teammates, while Tanner Bruhn returns after missing the 2025 season due to criminal charges that were later dropped.
With Stanley, Blicavs and Toby Conway out, young Will Edwards and versatile Sam De Koning are expected to shoulder the ruck load for Geelong.
All eyes will be on Connor Macdonald and Josh Weddle for Hawthorn, as Day’s continued absence means more midfield duty for those two in 2026.
AFL.com.au will provide live coverage of the Hawks versus Cats hit-out on Monday, with exclusive viewing available on Kayo and Foxtel.
Hawthorn v Geelong, Kennedy Community Centre, 1:45pm AEDT
(4 quarters of 30 minutes, no extra time)
HAWTHORN
1. Harry Morrison, 2. Mitch Lewis, 3. Jai Newcombe, 4. Jarman Impey, 5. Nick Watson, 6. James Sicily, 7. Ned Reeves, 8. Dylan Moore, 9. Connor Macdonald, 10. Karl Amon, 11. Conor Nash, 13. Calsher Dear, 14. Jack Scrimshaw, 16. Massimo D'Ambrosio, 17. Lloyd Meek, 18. Mabior Chol, 20. Finn Maginness, 21. Noah Mraz, 23. Josh Weddle, 25. Josh Ward, 26. Bodie Ryan, 28. Cam Mackenzie, 29. Aidan Schubert, 30. Sam Butler, 35. Oliver Greeves, 38. Max Ramsden, 39. Flynn Perez, 40. Jack Riding, 42. Bailey Macdonald, 44. Henry Hustwaite
Absent: Tom Barrass, Jack Gunston, Josh Battle, Blake Hardwick, Will Day, Cam Nairn, Will McCabe, Matt Leray, Cody Anderon, Jack Dalton, James Blanck, Matt Hill, Jamie Uhr-Henry
GEELONG
2. Jay Polkinghorne, 4. Tanner Bruhn, 10. Mitch Knevitt, 11. Mitch Edwards, 12. Jack Bowes, 13. Jhye Clark, 14. Connor O'Sullivan, 15. George Stevens, 16. Sam De Koning, 20. Jacob Molier, 21. Oli Wiltshire, 22. Hunter Holmes, 23. Lennox Hofmann, 24. Jed Bews, 27. Nick Driscoll, 28. Ollie Dempsey, 29. James Worpel, 30. Tom Atkins, 32. Gryan Miers, 33. Shannon Neale, 34. Oisin Mullin, 36. Ollie Henry, 37. Joe Pike, 38. Jack Henry, 41. Cillian Burke, 42. Mark O'Connor, 45. Brad Close
Absent: Patrick Dangerfield, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes, Tom Stewart, Lawson Humphries, Rhys Stanley, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Conway, Shaun Mannagh, Jake Kolodjashnij, Tyson Stengle, Jack Martin, Jesse Mellor, Harley Barker, Keighton Matofai-Forbes, Zach Guthrie, Mark Blicavs
Note: Players listed as 'Absent' include those who took part in AAMI AFL Origin on Saturday.
