Watch the full injury report in the HawksTV player above.

HAWTHORN Captain Luke Hodge could make his long awaited return for the Hawks this Friday night against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

After finally overcoming a troublesome knee injury that has kept him on the sidelines since Round 7, Hodge made a successful return to football on Saturday, for Box Hill in the VFL.

Hodge played 80 minutes of game time, and in that time gathered 24 disposals and kicked a goal to be one of the Hawks’ best afield in their thumping win over the Collingwood reserves on Saturday at Victoria Park.

Hawthorn General Manager - Football Operations, Mark Evans says a decision on Hodge will be made at match committee later this week, but admitted the skipper could play another match in the VFL.

“He went really well, he played about 80 minutes of the game and looked terrific out there,” Evans said of Hodge’s game in the VFL.

“He did an amazing blind turn, kicked a goal, laid tackles and did everything we asked of him.

“He’s going really well and he could play this week, or he might get another game in the VFL.”

While Hodge could be a big inclusion for the Hawks at selection on Thursday night, spearhead Lance Franklin won’t be in contention, listed as being another week away from a return with a hamstring injury.

Evans says that Franklin could, however, be in line for a return for next week’s blockbuster against Geelong at the MCG.

“He’s going really well,” Evans said of Franklin’s progress.

“He’ll ramp that up (his rehab) over the course of next week and hopefully be available for next weekend.”

In more good news for the Hawks, midiefler Xavier Ellis looks certain to line-up for Box Hill on Saturday against Werribee at City Oval on Saturday.

Ellis has missed almost two months of football with a knee injury sustained in the final term of a VFL match last month.

The midfielder and former number three draft pick will play his first game of football since June on Saturday, barring any mishap at training this week.

“We’ve taken him off the injury list, and unless something untoward happens tomorrow, he plays in the VFL this week,” Evans said.

Youngster Alex Woodward is also coming along strongly in his rehabilitation from  a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Woodward is expected to complete a full pre-season heading into season 2013.

“He’s going so well that we could actually put him back into full training right now,” Evans said.

“We’ll probably go the more conservative route and say just keep training and look forward to the pre-season where you’ll be uninhibited.”




Injury list

Andrew Boseley (shoulder) - season




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