The Hawthorn Spartans got their best indication that pre-season has gone as planned when they managed a 55 point win against the Collegians last week.
This weekend is another story, as the Spartans embark on their first foray into Section 1 of the Victorian Amateur Football Association, being promoted after securing the premiership in Club XVIII division last season.
Delays in the fixture schedule has the Spartans a little unsure of what they’ll be up against and how to train accordingly, but they are in good stead with a strong pre-season.
They only found out on Thursday that they will be up against rivals, Old Geelong. Last time they played against each other was in the 2012 Grand Final where the Spartans lost. They’ll have something to prove in their opening match.
The team has grown since the Grand Final win last year and has welcomed some new players, all gelling well with each other.
Form is looking good for the recruits and the more established clan, and with a new game plan, set plays, and structures introduced in pre-season, the team is in good spirits.
The match against Old Geelong will be at Como Park, South Yarra at 11.40 am.
The team:
Sam Zito, Christopher Higgins, Anthony Marguccio, Anthony Demetriou (Captain), Max Church, Daniel Zito, Mohammed Dadab, Matthew Eagle, Dean Bubunaras, Chris Armatas, Ari Mitropoulos, Julian Handford, Michael Elijah, John Farah, Ange Mihalos, Dean Korlos, Chris Katsanevakis, Andrew Toumbakis, Nathan Koukouras, Michael Koukouras, Leigh Zito, Nick Criticos (vice-captain), Antonio Brizzi, Nicholas Papaconstandinou, Andrew Stavridis, Justin Rieve, Ben Wignall, John Michael Ziccone, Dean Ekonomides, Daniel Tyrrell, Taleb Elemaneh. Adam Karim, Daniel Raponi, Lawrence Vanvitelli.
Coach: Anthony Demetriou.