Inside midfielder Mitch Hallahan will play his first senior game in over 11 months with the SUNS final 22 named to take on Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday.

After registering 12 senior games last season, his first with the SUNS, the former Hawk missed the last seven games of 2015 with an arm injury.

Hallahan then missed the opening two months of the 2016 season after suffering a fractured foot in a NEAFL practice match in March, but returned to the field in early June and has compiled a pair of solid performances in the reserves to push his way into Rodney Eade’s senior side.

The Sorrento product collected 26 disposals, 10 clearances, five inside 50s and a goal in his most recent NEAFL appearance and will add some much-needed grunt to an engine room that will be without Jesse Lonergan (glandular fever) against the reigning premier.

Jarrad Grant also comes into the senior side after Adam Saad was withdrawn from the squad with hamstring tightness. The former Bulldog has played five senior games so far in 2016 with his last appearance coming in round nine against Adelaide.

Aaron Hall is the other inclusion to the SUNS round 14 team, with Sean Lemmens (hamstring), Kade Kolodjashnij (concussion) and Lonergan out of the side that faced Richmond in round 12.


Round 14 AFL Premiership Team

B: N. Malceski, R. Thompson, T. McKenzie
HB: J. Martin, S. May, J. Harbrow
C: M. Rosa, G. Ablett, A. Sexton
HF: A. Hall, T. Lynch, T. Miller
F: B. Matera, S. Day, P. Wright
FOLL: T. Nicholls, D. Prestia, M. Rischitelli
INT: J. Grant, M. Hallahan, R. Davis, J. Joyce

EMG: M. Shaw, C. Cameron, M. Willis

IN: J. Grant, M. Hallahan, A. Hall
OUT: S. Lemmens (hamstring), J. Lonergan (illness), K. Kolodjashnij (concussion)