HAWTHORN could regain four key players, including three premiership stars for Saturday’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG.
Forward Jack Gunston will return from a one-week calf injury, while defenders Brian Lake and Ben Stratton could bolster the Hawks’ defence and Ben McEvoy is in the selection mix.
Gunston was a late withdrawal for the win over Carlton last Friday night but after training strongly on Tuesday has been declared fit for Saturday’s blockbuster.
“He had a few bruises in his calf area but he’s trained this week and will take his place in the team on Saturday,” General Manager – Football Operations, Chris Fagan told hawthornfc.com.au
Lake and Stratton would be welcome additions to a Hawthorn defence bracing for gun Collingwood forward, Travis Cloke.
Cloke has kicked 13 goals in his last three outings, including six in Sunday’s loss to the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
While the pair would be timely inclusions, the Hawks are yet to decide whether they will return via the VFL.
Lake has missed six weeks with a calf injury sustained against St Kilda in Round 7, while Stratton (adductor) has missed three matches since being withdrawn from the selected side to face GWS in Round 11.
“Brian has trained really strongly on the track the last three weeks and we believe he’s done enough work now to resume playing,” Fagan said.
“He’ll bob up somewhere, we’re just not sure where yet – be it at VFL level or in the AFL team. That’s a decision that match committee will make later in the week.
“(Stratton) is very similar – he hasn’t played a lot of football in the last 5-6 weeks. He’s fit to play but again we need to decide where that may be.”
Ben Stratton in action for the Hawks.
While the Hawks have missed a number of key players this season including Lake, Stratton, Cyril Rioli, Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson and Ben McEvoy at various stages, they have been unwilling to rush back their returning stars.
Both Lake and Stratton have already returned via the Club’s VFL affiliate Box Hill earlier this year before making their comeback for the Hawks and ruckman McEvoy was the latest Hawk to so the same.
McEvoy played in Saturday’s win over Williamstown at City Oval, impressing in his first hit out since being subbed out at half time with a corked hamstring against Port Adelaide.
He won 33 hit outs along with nine disposals, nine tackles and two clearances in the win.
But the former Saint is no guarantee to resume his partnership with fellow ruckman David Hale for Hawthorn this weekend.
Saturday’s game was McEvoy’s first full match since Round 8, having played just a half of football since then because of the bye in Round 9.
Fagan said match conditioning is important for the Hawks’ big man.
“He was lacking game conditioning so he was able to have a good hit out with Box Hill on the weekend,” he said.
“He was probably a bit slow in the early stages of the game but in the last quarter he really stepped up – he obviously needed the run.
“We’ll have to assess whether another week at Box Hill will be good for him or whether we bring him into the AFL team.”
Sam Mitchell, meanwhile is edging closer to a return, now listed as being 1-2 weeks away, while Josh Gibson is still 5-6 weeks from resuming.
