Hawthorn selects oldest side ever

HAWTHORN will field the oldest team in AFL/VFL history against Richmond at the MCG tonight.

The Hawks have made one change, welcoming back midfielder Jaeger O’Meara, 26, to replace Harry Morrison, 21.

Ruckman Ben McEvoy will get another chance in his new key defensive role.

Coach Alastair Clarkson has backed the trusted veterans who were belted by Geelong by 61 points last weekend.

The Hawks’ heaviest defeat in three years has renewed debate about whether the club should rebuild through the draft after only two first-round picks (Will Day and Ryan Burton) in nine years.

Hawthorn fielded the equal-oldest side in 123 years against the Cats last Friday, when its average age per player (28.21 years) tied with Richmond’s team from Round 15, 1923, according to Champion Data.

But Hawthorn will take the No. 1 spot tonight, barring late changes, after O’Meara was cleared to return from a facial fracture in place of Morrison.

The Hawks added three mature-age recruits at the trade table last year, but that again left them walking a list management tightrope.

Unless Hawthorn jumps back into the eight, it will face tough calls on as many as 10 veterans, including seven 30year-olds at season’s end.

Clarkson expected the Hawks to be branded “too old, too slow and too tall” after the Geelong loss.

Paul Puopolo, 32, was retained in the side after laying two forward 50m tackles and gathering nine possessions against Geelong. He has booted 10 goals in his past 24 matches. Forward Jon Patton (six possessions), McEvoy (seven) and Ricky Henderson (eight) all kept their spots too.

The Hawks registered their lowest kicking efficiency (54.1 per cent) in 20 years in the loss to Geelong.