HAWTHORN has been able to select an unchanged side for the first time of the season ahead of Saturday's clash with Geelong at the MCG, leaving premiership player Robert Campbell to line up for Box Hill.
General manager of football operations Mark Evans said it was heartening to get some continuity at last.
"We have been waiting a long time for that," he told hawthornfc.com.au. "It is pleasing to have good form and no injuries and it’s a good position to be in and one you need, especially when you're playing the Cats."
Hawthorn is one of three sides to have used 35 players this season. Eight sides have used 36 or more.
Geelong has kept its count to 33 players while ladder leader St Kilda has only had 27 take the field in 2009.
Evans said the previous best selection for the club this year had seen two changes: one injury and one omission.
He added that Campbell had recovered from knee swelling that kept him out of last week's win over Collingwood but was unable to force his way back into the side.
"Given Simon Taylor and Brent Renouf played well, he just couldn't find a place in the side," Evans said.
The return of Stephen Gilham to the key defensive post also meant Campbell wasn't needed to fill a hole back there.
The Hawks have won the past two matches and showed signs of returning to their 2008 premiership form last Saturday night.
Luke Hodge's return to the midfield and five goals to Lance Franklin were the highlights but there was barely a passenger in the victory over the Pies.
"I think we can be more pleased with not just the result but the way we went about it," Evans said.
"The challenge is to replicate it this week, having done that across one full game."
Box Hill will host Port Melbourne on Sunday but Stuart Dew will not play after injuring his hamstring last week.
"He kicked three goals before half time but probably had some awareness [of the injury]. We wrapped him up at half time and we don't want to take any risks," Evans said.
Evans said the three emergencies – Cameron Stokes, Travis Tuck and Brendan Whitecross – were in great form at VFL level but just couldn't find a spot in the senior team.
Hawthorn
B: Guerra, Gilham, Murphy
HB: Birchall, Hodge, Ellis
C: Lewis, Mitchell, Shiels
HF: Osborne, Franklin, McGlynn
F: Rioli, Roughead, Brown
Foll: Taylor, Sewell, Bateman
I/C: Dowler, Kennedy, Renouf, Schoenmakers
Emg: Stokes, Tuck, Whitecross
No change
