The Hawthorn Hawks are set to welcome back several players this weekend as they face West Coast, with Cooper Stephens, Chad Wingard, Ned Reeves, and Max Ramsden all undergoing post-injury fitness tests. However, young defender Will McCabe is expected to miss another week due to a back injury.
High performance manager Peter Burge provided updates on the players’ conditions, particularly focusing on McCabe. “There are two factors with Will,” Burge said. “It’s partly about how much training he’s been able to do over the past two weeks, and secondly, given his recent injury history, we decided to give him another week of training. We’re aiming for him to play a half of football next week.”
Burge added that the team has other players on limited game times this weekend, including Cooper Stephens and Jack O’Sullivan, who will play half a game and three quarters of a game, respectively.
Injury List Updates:
Ethan Phillips:
Ethan Phillips, who recently underwent minor knee surgery to remove a loose body, is set to return. “Ethan’s knee has felt fantastic since the surgery,” Burge reported. “He trained fully last Saturday and will be available to play the entire game this weekend.”
Jack O’Sullivan:
Jack O’Sullivan is also set to make his return in Round 16. “He’s missed six or seven weeks, but he’s had a great block of training,” said Burge. “He will play three quarters of the game this weekend, which is a great result for him.”
Max Ramsden:
Max Ramsden, who had a rolled ankle in the Richmond VFL game, has been training actively and is expected to be available for this weekend’s game.
Chad Wingard:
Chad Wingard, recovering from a calf injury, has a 50% chance of playing this weekend. He is listed as a ‘test’ and a final decision will be made later in the week.
Cooper Stephens:
Cooper Stephens, dealing with an Achilles issue, is also listed as a ‘test’. Burge stated, “We’ve put him down to play a half of footy against Port Melbourne this weekend. He’s had a great block of training over the past six weeks and has completed a body of work that suggests he’s ready to resume match play.”
The Hawks are looking to manage their players carefully as they prepare for the crucial game against West Coast. Fans will be eager to see how the returning players perform and contribute to the team’s success.