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Gault, who was sidelined for two months earlier this season after suffering a broken collarbone, surged into selection consideration over the last few weeks with a series of impressive displays at VFL level.
Operating in the forward line and as a ruck, Gault’s performances have been characterised by his contested marking strength, aerial ability and stellar tap work, combining to earn the 21-year old his AFL debut.
He is one of three inclusions for the match, alongside Heritier Lumumba and Paul Seedsman, with Brent Macaffer (knee), Clinton Young (hamstring) and Dane Swan (hamstring) all unavailable through injury.
Drafted with the 65th pick in the 2011 National Draft, Gault arrived at the Westpac Centre as an athletic but still developing tall capable of rotating through the ruck or holding a key position role at either end of the ground.
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Such a description would hold true, with the West Australian’s versatility seeing him fielded in all three positions in the second tier competition, playing a pivotal role in the latter half of the season as he has helped propel the VFL Magpies to a second successive finals series.
Lumumba meanwhile returns after missing Collingwood’s stirring eight-point triumph over Greater Western Sydney with a corked thigh.
Having played 20 matches this season, averaging 20 disposals, three rebound 50s and three inside 50s per match, Lumumba’s inclusion will provide a necessary dose of experience to a Magpie side coping with the well documented absence of a host of established stars.
After a three week stint in the VFL, Seedsman has been called up, ostensibly, to fill the void left by Young’s absence, with his added run and drive, and prodigious long kicking from half back and wing poised to be asset for the Magpies as the team looks to secure an unlikely berth in the finals series.
Producing consecutive 24 disposal performances over the last fortnight, Seedsman’s inclusion arrives with his form in the ascendancy, and should be a welcome boost for the Black and White.
Collingwood v Hawthorn
Round 23
Friday 29 August
MCG, 7.50pm
Collingwood
B: Jackson Ramsay, Jack Frost, Ben Sinclair
HB: Marley Williams, Lachlan Keeffe, Tony Armstrong
C: Heritier Lumumba, Scott Pendlebury, Sam Dwyer
HF: Steele Sidebottom, Corey Gault, Jarryd Blair
F: Tyson Goldsack, Jesse White, Brodie Grundy
Foll: Jarrod Witts, Josh Thomas, Tim Broomhead
Int: Alex Fasolo, Luke Ball, Paul Seedsman, Tom Langdon
Emg: Ben Kennedy, Quinten Lynch, Patrick Karnezis
IN: Corey Gault, Heritier Lumumba, Paul Seedsman
OUT: Brent Macaffer (knee), Dane Swan (hamstring), Clinton Young (hamstring)
NEW: Corey Gault (21, Swan Districts)
Hawthorn
B: Josh Gibson, Brian Lake, Taylor Duryea
HB: Sam Mitchell, Angus Litherland, Grant Birchall
C: Bradley Hill, Will Langford, Liam Shiels
HF: Luke Breust, Jonathon Ceglar, Isaac Smith
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Jack Gunston
Foll: David Hale, Jordan Lewis, Shaun Burgoyne
Int: Ryan Schoenmakers, Jonathan Simpkin, Matt Spangher, Brad Sewell
Emg: Billy Hartung, Ben McEvoy, Kyle Cheney
IN: Taylor Duryea, Angus Litherland, Ryan Schoenmakers
OUT: Luke Hodge (knee soreness), Ben Stratton (corked calf), Matthew Suckling (knee)
