HAWTHORN midfielder Brad Sewell says spearhead Lance Franklin is no certainty to face the Cats on Friday night at the MCG.
Franklin injured his hamstring in the thirs quarter of the Hawks thumping 162-point win over Greater Western Sydney in Round 15.
The Coleman Medal leader has missed Hawthorn’s past three matches, and was listed as being one week away from a return last week.
Sewell says though, that there’s no guarantee that the Hawthorn star will be ready for a return.
“I’m not sure if he’ll play this week,” Sewell said at the Ricoh Centre on Monday.
“He trained well last week and he’ll obviously go through again this week and everything going well he’ll be a chance I’m sure.
“He’ll play when he’s ready.”
The Hawks have won all three matches without Franklin, including wins over top eight sides Collingwood and Essendon last Friday night.
Sewell said that the Club won’t take any risks with Franklin, with five matches remaining in the home-and-away season.
“We’ve still got five games left before finals start and that’ll look after itself,” he said.
“He’ll play when he’s ready, and if that’s this week, then good and well, if it’s next week, great, if it’s the following week then that doesn’t matter.”
The Hawks welcomed back skipper Luke Hodge in Friday night’s 94-point win, with the Hawks’ skipper named as one of the best players on the ground with 16 disposals and five goals.
Sewell says the Captain has pulled up well from his first match since Round 6.
“He’s moving fine and is really upbeat and positive and really looking forward to (this week’s) game,” he said.
The Hawks will be aiming for its ninth straight win at the MCG on Friday night, but will have to overcome Geelong - a side the Hawks haven’t beaten since winning the 2008 premiership.
Hawthorn was narrowly beaten by the Cats in Round 2, but Sewell says the two sides that run out on Friday night won’t be the same as they were 17 weeks ago.
“They’re a different side from the last time we played each other, and we’re a different side,” Sewell said.
“The game is constantly evolving.
“I think we’re both playing slightly different brands of football, and so that’ll take its course on Friday night.”
Sewell says though that there’s no doubt Friday night’s game will be a “cracker”.
“You know it’s going to be a good game, it’s going to be a hot game, contested game, there’s going to be lots of pressure applied on behalf of both (sides),” he said.
“You go into a Geelong game knowing it’s going to be a cracker.”
Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre.
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