HAWTHORN has elevated Derick Wanganeen to its senior list ahead of Saturday's season-opener against the Brisbane Lions at Aurora Stadium.
The 23-year-old takes the place of the unlucky Brendan Whitecross, who ruptured his ACL for the second time in as many years in last year's preliminary final. Whitecross has been placed on the long-term injury list.
Wanganeen is now firmly in the frame to be picked on Saturday for what would be his first senior game for the Hawks.
Wanganeen spent the maximum three years on the club's rookie list and was delisted at the end of last year, before being re-selected via the Rookie Draft.
After battling for form and opportunities in his first two seasons as a small forward, Wanganeen found a niche as a half-back and played a key part in Box Hill's VFL premiership win.
He impressed in three NAB Challenge matches this year, and shapes as a logical inclusion in the team to face the Lions on Saturday.
Hawthorn is without a number of key members of its backline because of injury and suspension including Brian Lake, Ryan Schoenmakers, Cyril Rioli and Ben Stratton.
The Hawks have experimented with Rioli as a zone-breaking half-back through the summer, and while he serves his one-match suspension from the Grand Final, the pacy Wanganeen appears an ideal stand-in for that role.
The 176cm Wanganeen was drafted to the Hawks from the Port Adelaide Magpies.
The Hawks also announced on Wednesday a contract extension for emerging midfielder Will Langford, the son of four-time club premiership defender and now AFL commissioner, Chris Langford.
Langford played one senior game in 2013 but after a stellar NAB Challenge campaign, appears a certain inclusion to take on the Lions.
