DUAL Hawthorn best and fairest defender Josh Gibson's has not necessarily played his last game for the Hawks, coach Alastair Clarkson says.
Gibson, 33, suffered a right groin strain in his side's 16-point loss to Gold Coast in round 12, which ruled him out for a month.
With no contract beyond this season and the club sitting in 16th spot on the ladder, there has been speculation the three-time premiership player would not add to his tally of 225 matches.
However, Clarkson was quick to say that's not the case.
"He's got a groin injury and he'll be back in about two or three weeks," Clarkson said at Waverley on Saturday.
"Irrespective of what's going to be happening next year, we want our players who are listed to our club to finish out the season and then we'll make some decisions together at the end of the year.
"If their form's really strong and their bodies are OK, then we'll make a good assessment about what happens in '18."
Gibson won both of his Peter Crimmins Medals in years the side won the flag (2013 and 2015).
Tough forward Paul Puopolo will miss Sunday's clash with Collingwood at the MCG with a groin complaint.
"We're hoping it's just a week. He could have nearly played. He's been carrying a little bit of groin soreness and it usually settles by game day," Clarkson said.
"We're just trying to break the cycle. This is common sort of language we use within our club all the time, of little sore spots players get. When they've been carrying them for a while and doesn't settle perfectly, then we just think to ourselves 'If he just had one week off, will that do the trick?'.
"We're hoping that'll be the case with 'Poppy'."
The Magpies have the same win-loss record as the Hawks but their percentage is almost 20 per cent higher. They have been boosted by the returns of smart forward Jamie Elliott, while Mason Cox, Jackson Ramsay and Josh Thomas were also named.
Ben Reid was a shock omission.
The Hawks made one change after their stunning 14-point interstate win against Adelaide as defender Ben Stratton overcame a right knee injury suffered against the Brisbane Lions in round eight and to replace Puopolo.
A player who stood out against the Crows was Ryan Burton. The No.19 selection in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft has played most of his AFL career down back but his two important goals last week showed an aptitude to play around the ground.
"He played a lot of footy forward as a junior and as a real junior, as a midfielder. He can play in a number of spots and that's the beauty of having someone young like that with that sort of flexibility. Where he settles that suits the side the best will remain to be seen," Clarkson said.
Burton slipped down the draft pecking order after a gruesome left leg injury in 2014 – a shattered tibia and a dislocated kneecap – scared some clubs off.
He didn't play at all in his draft year but Hawthorn's medical team was confident the South Australian would be fine if he was managed correctly.
Burton has lined up in 12 matches this year and has averaged 21 disposals per game.
