AFL round 20 teams: Harry McKay, Will Day return for Thursday night blockbuster

Thursday night will be a special occasion for Carlton with the farewell of Sam Docherty, but the Hawks will have their own celebrating to do with the return of a major star.

Hawthorn and Carlton will both welcome back stars for Sam Docherty’s farewell game on Thursday night.

The Hawks have named Will Day to play his first game since round 3, having fully recovered from a stress fracture in his foot.

Day has replaced Finn Maginness, who will miss the rest of the season with a lacerated kidney.

The Blues will welcome back Harry McKay, who was sidelined with a knee complaint that required surgery.

Blake Acres has also been recalled after he was omitted earlier this month.

The veteran Blues will replace the injured Francis Evans and Flynn Young.

Carlton will enter the clash with a host of talls, naming rucks Marc Pittonet and Tom De Koning, as well as Charlie Curnow to partner with McKay.

Will Day is back for the Hawks. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We’ll look a bit taller, that’s for sure,” coach Michael Voss said on Wednesday.

“But there’s no complaints here. We’re trying to find ultimately what that forward mix will look like — and this will be a different look altogether again.

“We’ll use this period of time to find out where we progress, where we need to advance, what are the roles that we need to see … but that’s also an opportunity.”

Pittonet has been mainly used as the No. 1 ruck since returning into the senior side, but he did kick two goals against Brisbane in round 18.

De Koning, meanwhile, has booted just five goals through 17 games this season and has just one since playing alongside Pittonet.

Originally published as AFL round 20 teams: Harry McKay, Will Day return for Thursday night blockbuster