World Footy News

The door is ajar of New Zealand's Kurt Heatherley to make the next step at Hawthorn. Heatherley has been selected to play in Hawthorn's third pre season match against Melbourne at Casey Fields this Saturday. On the back of a solid debut and showing up high profile Sudanese born Majak Daw from North Melbourne in his second match, his third outing could be the performance that leads him to be upgraded from the rookie list (where he is listed as an International Rookie) to the senior list.

Due to Brendan Whitecross being placed on the long term injury list this week there is a spot open. And Heatherley is in contention alongside Derik Wanganeen to be given that spot with both youngsters playing this Saturday.

Heatherley has been groomed as a defender in his time at Hawthorn over the past couple of years and with Brian Lake set to miss at least the first three games of the season due to suspension from the 2013 Grand Final his services may be required in the Hawk's backline.

If all this was to fall into place for him, it would be a meteoric rise for the raw New Zealander and would see him become the first player to learn the game outside Australia to play in an regular season AFL match and the first International Scholarship recipient to play senior AFL football.