HAWTHORN'S Angus Litherland has been forced to pass the baton to teammate Daniel Howe in the 13 CABS AFL Grand Final Sprint after being named emergency in Saturday's Grand Final against West Coast.
Howe, the No.31 pick in last year's draft, played four games for the Hawks this year and will now feature in the sprint alongside 17 other players – as well as two taxi drivers.
The event will be split into two heats as the players compete for the honour of being crowned the AFL's fastest man.
Litherland, who played his last game in the Hawks' 57-point win over Carlton in round 23, will be kept on standby in case of a late injury in his side's lead-up to Saturday.
Adelaide goalsneak Charlie Cameron, Richmond's Anthony Miles, St Kilda veteran Leigh Montagna, Melbourne forward Jay Kennedy-Harris, Sydney Swans utility Dean Towers, North Melbourne's Majak Daw and Collingwood son of a gun Darcy Moore could all be in the mix to take out the title.
Geelong's Jordan Murdoch won't be back to defend the crown he won in 2014 after having hand surgery at the end of the season, and with another former winner Rhys Stanley also out thanks to an operation, Darcy Lang will represent the Cats.
Two drivers from 13 CABS – Gurdev and Parminder Singh - will carry the flag for the taxi-driving fraternity.
GRAND FINAL SPRINT HEATS
Heat 1
Majak Daw
Caleb Daniel
Angus Litherland
Charlie Cameron
Darcy Moore
Rory Lobb
Paddy Brophy
Henry Schade
Darcy Lang
Parminder Singh
Heat 2
Brad Ebert
Anthony Miles
Dean Towers
Andrejs Everritt
Jay Kennedy-Harris
Hayden Crozier
Elliott Kavanagh
Leigh Montagna
Lewis Taylor
Gurdev Singh
