Four important Hawks are expected to be available for Round 1, coach Sam Mitchell has confirmed, after an underwhelming fortnight for the club.
Vice-captain Dylan Moore, key forward Jack Gunston, young gun Josh Weddle and utility Harry Morrison all didn’t play the Community Series game against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, with Mitchell’s men comprehensively beaten 9.8 (62) – 17.17 (119) in Launceston.
That quartet makes up a small part of the league’s biggest injury list heading into the start of the 2024 season, with the setbacks limiting the momentum Hawthorn finished with in 2023.
Moore developed glandular fever in mid-February, while the Hawks took “no risk” with the other trio despite their first home and away game being two weeks away.
Mitchell is confident they will all be fit to play Essendon at the MCG.
“(The injury list) is emptying out a little bit. Josh Weddle, Harry Morrison, Jack Gunston and Dylan Moore, hopefully they will all be available for Round 1,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“It should help. We still put 18 out there and showed some good stuff, but not consistently enough.”
Hawthorn also faced the Bulldogs the week prior in an unofficial practice match, with Luke Beveridge’s men 25-point winners on that occasion at Whitten Oval.
In both matches, the Hawks have conceded significant run-ons and been scored heavily against. However, the run-and-gun style that became evident as 2023 played out has continued to be a feature, with Mitchell’s young side given the permission to run and create.
While the last fortnight has seen public expectations lowered for the Hawks in 2024, a relaxed Mitchell, who is entering his third season at the helm, maintained an air of confidence when discussing his side’s prospects.
However, he acknowledged there is work to do.
“We had some great opportunities to score that they were able to stop, but we did do some exciting things,” Mitchell added.
“We ended up running and bouncing and having grass in front of us a lot, but we just couldn’t find ways to turn that into a score.
“There are lots of challenging parts of the game and when you have a new forward line that is working pretty well individually, getting opposition against you… they’re going to get better across the year.”
25-year-old Mitch Lewis will lead the Hawks inside 50 and has the best foil he’s ever had as a Hawk in 2024 alongside recruits Gunston and Mabior Chol.
Lewis finished with two goals and six marks on Saturday, while Chol also kicked a major.
The Hawks aren’t taking part in Opening Round in 2024, with their first game coming against the Bombers on Saturday, March 16.