World Footy News

NZ imports Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu (pictured) have been named in Hawthorn's 29-man squad to take on Carlton in the opening match of the 2016 NAB Challenge pre-season series on Thursday night at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

Tatupu finished the 2015 season strongly for Box Hill in the VFL and if he plays it will be his first NAB Challenge match and an important step towards making his AFL debut for the Hawks. Track watchers at Waverley have noted the big man's form on the track showing great improvement from previous seasons.

Heatherley who has been upgraded to the senior list for 2016 played his first match in the preseason competition for the Hawks in 2014. He too will be looking to put his case to the selectors to make his senior debut this year.

Carlton will be looking to improve this season after being wooden spooners in 2015. Irishmen Zach Tuohy and Ciaran Byrne have been named in the Blues 29-man squad. Ciaran Sheehan (Ire) and new ruck prospeck Matt Korchek (USA) have not been named.

SQUADS (To be reduced to a team of 26 for the match)

HAWTHORN

3. Jordan Lewis 
4. Billy Hartung
5. Sam Mitchell
6. Josh Gibson
7. Ben McEvoy 
8. Taylor Duryea
10. Bradley Hill
11. Brendan Whitecross
13. Jonathan O'Rourke
14. Grant Birchall
15. Luke Hodge
16. Isaac Smith
17. Angus Litherland
20. Dallas Willsmore
21. James Sicily
22. Luke Breust
23. Tim O'Brien
24. Ben Stratton
25. Ryan Schoenmakers
28. Paul Puopolo
30. Kaiden Brand
31. Zac Webster
32. Jack Fitzpatrick
34. Kurt Heatherley
41. Daniel Howe
42. Teia Miles
43. Marc Pittonet
46. Lachlan Langford
47. Shem-Kalvin Tatupu

​CARLTON

3. Marc Murphy
4. Bryce Gibbs
6. Kade Simpson
8. Matthew Kreuzer
10. Harry McKay
11. Sam Kerridge
12. Blaine Boekhorst
13. Jed Lamb
14. Liam Jones
15. Sam Docherty
17. Sam Rowe
22. Jason Tutt
23. Jacob Weitering
24. Mark Whiley
30. Charlie Curnow
31. Matthew Dick
32. Nick Graham
33. Andrejs Everitt
34. Andrew Phillips
35. Ed Curnow
37. Daniel Gorringe
38. Ciaran Byrne
39. Dale Thomas
40. Michael Jamison
41. Levi Casboult
42. Zach Tuohy
43. Simon White
45. Andrew Gallucci
46. Matthew Wright