KEY POSITION duo Jack Fitzpatrick and Ryan Burton will return to football through the VFL this weekend.

Both have spent lengthy periods on the sidelines in 2016.

Fitzpatrick, who crossed from Melbourne at the end of last season, has not played since mid-May after sustaining a concussion in the VFL against Werribee.

Draftee Burton has not played since mid-April, when he had an operation on his knee as a follow-up to the injury which kept him out of action in his draft year.

GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said both will play in the VFL this week.

“(Head Fitness Coach) Andrew Russell said yesterday that both of them will play this weekend,” Fagan said.

“That’s really good news.

“Fitzy’s had a bit of a battle with concussion which we know about, but he’s been training for a few weeks now and he’s made a full recovery – it’s really exciting.

“We pulled Ryan Burton out after four or five games this year and he’s had the knee operation. He’s recovered well and he’s ready to go. We’ve got high hopes for him… certainly down the track we think he’ll be a terrific player for us.”

In another positive for the Hawks, premiership forward Ryan Schoenmakers is inching closer to a return from the pelvic injury which has seen him manage just four games – three AFL, one VFL – this year.

“He’s stepped up his training, his body’s responding well,” Fagan said.

“If things stay on track, we think in two or three weeks’ time we might see him playing again.”