By Marc McGowan
IT will be a battle of traditional rivals when Hawthorn and Essendon face off in the NAB Challenge at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.
The match is expected to draw between 5000 and 10,000 spectators with both teams keen to perform well in their final match before the season proper kicks off.
The Hawks will be making their second high-profile appearance in the region this pre-season, following a training session at Toomuc Reserve in Pakenham on 19 January.
Hawthorn chief operating officer Terry Dillon said it was all part of his club’s push to be a force in the south east.
“With our relocation to the eastern corridor to Waverley Park, we are looking to reclaim our old heartland,” he said.
“We’ve started establishing relationships with the Cardinia and Casey councils and we’ll be spending more time out there with clinics and practice matches.”
Dillon was full of praise for the facilities at Casey Fields.
“The ground is fantastic. I’m not sure how many they’re expecting, but it will hopefully cater for a pretty solid crowd,” he said.
“Our guys, Box Hill (the Hawks’ Victorian Football League affiliate), played there in a seconds game last year and we pushed the AFL to play the game there this week.”
Hawthorn is expected to select a full-strength side, bar injuries, and will regain the services of All-Australian key position player Trent Croad for the first time this pre-season.
“The key point is to get ready for round one,” Dillon said.
“This is the last hit-out, so we’ll try to get as close to the structure for the main season as possible.
“We’d like to improve from last year, but there will be no predictions on where we’ll finish.”
The practice match starts at 2pm and members of both clubs will gain free access to the ground.
Adult non-members will have to pay $10 for entry, while concession card holders will be charged $5, children $2 and families $20.
