HAWTHORN is taking a cautious approach with gun midfielder Brad Sewell’s injured hamstring, declaring it will be tested at training again before he is under selection consideration.
Sewell has missed the last three matches with what was a minor hamstring injury sustained in the Round 2 win over West Coast at Patersons Stadium.
General Manager – Football Operations James Fantasia says despite being listed as a test the past two weeks, both Sewell and the Club want to make sure he’s 100 per cent fit before pulling the trigger on his return.
He hopes though, Sewell will be fit to return this weekend.
“That’s the professionalism in terms of him getting it right,” Fantasia said of Sewell testing him hamstring.
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed on that one.”
The news isn’t as good for Cyril Rioli’s hamstring, however, with the Hawks dynamo expected to be sidelined until after the bye in Round 11.
One of Hawthorn’s best in the 3-point win over North Melbourne, Rioli injured his hamstring in a scintillating run on the Southern wing of the MCG, trying to spark his team and keep the ball going forward on the fast break.
Unfortunately for he and the Club, he knew he had suffered an injury as soon as he hit the turf, clutching his left hamstring.
Fantasia said Rioli’s injury soured Hawthorn’s gutsy win and the Club is unsure of a return date.
“It was very disappointing on the night for that to happen…it took a bit of shine off it (the win),” he said.
“We’re not too sure of the length of that recovery time will be, but what we will find out over the next fortnight is how bad that situation is.
“He won’t be coming back until after the bye.
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed that it all falls into place.”
Meanwhile, Rising Star nominee Jed Anderson is expected to miss only one more week with his hamstring injury suffered in the Round 3 win over Collingwood.
Anderson will miss a third week with the injury, but could be back to continue his excellent debut season next weekend.
Fantasia said Anderson’s injury came at a disappointing time for the youngster who had impressed in the opening three rounds.
“It was disappointing for him that he had to miss the next couple (after Round 3), but we think he should be right after this weekend,” he said.
