HAWTHORN could be bolstered by the return of three premiership players for Saturday night's blockbuster against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Skipper Luke Hodge will return after General Manager - Football Operations, Chris Fagan confirmed he'd overcome the hamstring complaint that kept him out of the loss to Sydney, while Liam Shiels (shoulder) and veteran Brad Sewell (hamstring) have all put their hand up for selection after overcoming various injuries.
The availability of the trio is finally some welcome good news for the Hawks, who have been hit hard by injuries in the last three weeks, with Josh Gibson (pectoral), Sam Mitchell (hamstring), Cyril Rioli (hamstring) and Brian Lake (calf) all unavailable for extended periods.
But Fagan confirmed to hawthornfc.com.au that Hodge will make the trip to Adelaide to take on the Power who currently sit on top of the AFL ladder.
“He is available this week,” he said. “He’s trained well this week and will take the field on Saturday.”
Shiels will return after spending five weeks on the sidelines with a shoulder injury but has trained strongly over the bye week and is set to return.
The hard-running midfielder hasn’t played since injuring his shoulder in a collision with Gold Coast’s Jarrod Harbrow in Round 4 but Fagan said the Club is yet to decide whether he makes his return via the VFL.
“Everything he’s done at training this week indicates that he’ll be available to play football, we’ve just got to decide at what level that is,” he said.
Fellow premiership midfielder, Sewell, could also come under consideration for a senior recall after making a successful comeback from a hamstring injury in the VFL.
He was named in Box Hill’s best in their 29-point win over Richmond on Saturday with 22 disposals and nine tackles.
While Sewell has played only two VFL games for the year and is yet to appear in the senior side, Fagan revealed he is a chance to bolster the Hawthorn midfield missing dual premiership player and four-time best and fairest winner, Mitchell.
“(He was) doing some great work around the stoppages,” Fagan said of Sewell’s performance in the VFL.
“He’s let the selectors well and truly know that he’s available this week if they want to pick him.”
After playing four games in 18 days, Fagan said the bye came at the right time for the Hawks and expects the side to be ready for a fierce contest against the Power on Saturday night.
“The break will have done them the world of good - we’ve had three training sessions since they returned and had a hard run on Saturday morning,” he said.
“I think they’ll come up really fresh and determined against Port Adelaide.”
