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VELOCITY SPORTS NEWS

Whitecross set for NAB Cup debut

Friday, 20 February, 2009

Brendan Whitecross will wear the Hawthorn jumper for the first time at senior level on Saturday in a side dubbed the 'baby Hawks' by the Melbourne media.

The 19-year-old former Kedron and Zillmere Eagles product, to debut in the NAB Cup against Melbourne in Launceston, is at the start of his second season in the AFL after being drafted by the Hawks in the second round of the 2007 AFL National Draft.

Looming as a small defender short-term before developing into his preferred role in the midfield, he played with Hawthorn affiliate Box Hill in the VFL last year and continues to impress the senior coaching team.

Ironically, Whitecross, to wear jumper No.37, will be opposed to fellow Queenslander Jake Spencer, a teammate in the Australia Post Queenland U18 Scorpions.

The Hawks have named 13 premiership players in its first NAB Cup squad, but it's the youth of the side that is the main storyline, according to football manager Mark Evans.

"We're very excited about how many young players will be representing the club this weekend," Evans told the Hawthorn website.

"I think it will be fantastic for our people to see Beau Dowler, Mitch Thorp and Ben McGlynn back after bad runs with injury last year.

"We also have Ryan Schoenmakers, Liam Shiels and Luke Breust who were all drafted last year. And Brendan Whitecross from the draft before. That's all exciting.

"We remember when (Jarryd) Roughead, (Jordan) Lewis and (Lance) Franklin came into the place and we were excited by their youth, well, we've got some talented young kids still yet to make their mark."

The Hawks prepared to launch their premiership defence as Michael Gleeson of The Age revealed Hawthorn will enter the 2009 season with the youngest list in the AFL. League historians believe it to be the first time this has happened.

The average age of Hawk players is 22 years, 158 days. That is 16 days younger than the next youngest team, Melbourne - the side that last year held up the other end of the ladder.