HAWTHORN Captain Luke Hodge is on track for a return for Hawthorn sooner rather than later after pulling up well from his first competitive hit out for 2013 on Saturday.
Hodge played for the Club’s VFL affiliate Box Hill at the weekend, helping the Hawks to a 31-point win over the Scorpians at Casey Fields.
Hodge looked in good touch in his first match, gathering 17 disposals and taking six marks in the win.
It was his first hit out since having the post-season knee surgery that limited his pre-season before Christmas.
While his ability to sustain two hours of football was never under question, the Hawks were keen to see how their captain pulled up after the hit out, given Hodge hasn’t played a competitive match since the 2012 Grand Final.
Head of Coaching and Development, Chris Fagan said the Club’s coaching fitness staff were buoyed by Hodge’s return.
“He played well and pulled up really well from the game which was critical to us,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“It wasn’t just could he play for the two hours, but also how would he pull up. He’s been really good so he’s well and truly on track.”
The Hawks also expect recruit Brian Lake to be available for selection this weekend after being a late withdrawal from the Easter Monday loss to Geelong.
After recovering from a pre-season calf injury, the former Bulldog suffered a corked thigh at training that failed to settle in time.
“He was on track to play last week but he got a corked thigh at training on the Wednesday,” Fagan said.
“We thought he might have been right by Monday and we gave him until the morning of the game but he wasn’t quite (right), so we didn’t risk him with the expectation he’ll be available for selection this weekend.”
In further good news for the Club, veteran forward Michael Osborne looks set to resume after almost twelve months out of the game with an anterior cruciate injury.
Osborne tore his ACL in Round 7 last season, but finally looks set to make his return for Box Hill at the weekend.
“I’ve felt the last three weeks or so he might be able to play but they’ve been pretty careful with him coming back from the knee reconstruction,” Fagan said.
“I would think he will don the Box Hill guernsey this weekend and start his footy career once again after a twelve month break.”
Round 2 injury list
Xavier Ellis (calf) 3-4 weeks
Mitch Hallahan (ankle) 1 week
Brian Lake (corked thigh) test
Michael Osborne (knee) test
Matt Suckling (knee) season
Brendan Whitecross (knee) 6-8 weeks
Alex Woodward (knee) season
