Striving to keep their tilt at history alive, Hawthorn expect teenager Ryan Burton to be available for Friday night's sudden-death semi-final against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
But while Burton's leg injury is unlikely to be a major concern for the three-time reigning premiers, discipline is again on the agenda.
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AFL plays of the finals: week one
Sons of the West win big in the West, Hawthorn and Geelong play out yet another classic, GWS have giant win over their cross-town rivals and Eddie Betts' brilliance is breathtaking.
Star midfielder Jordan Lewis is likely to be the subject of match review panel scrutiny for an early clash with Geelong captain Joel Selwood during last Friday night's thrilling qualifying final loss to the Cats. In a similar vein, Hawks small forward Paul Puopolo says all of coach Alastair Clarkson's players have the right to call out their teammates for needless acts of aggression after skipper Luke Hodge gave away a 50m penalty and goal to Selwood during the second term of the MCG blockbuster.
Playing just his fourth game, 191-centimetre Burton was solid across half-back early against the Cats before copping what Clarkson described post-match as a "pretty savage corkie" to his lower leg before half-time. Despite concerns from Clarkson he wouldn't make it back to face the Bulldogs, it's understood the club is tipping the South Australian to be OK for the must-win encounter.
Dual-premiership backman Taylor Duryea hurt his hand against the Cats but played out the game, and with mercurial young forward James Sicily set to return from illness, it means Hawthorn are likely to again be close to full strength for their date with the Dogs – with the exception of the long-term afflictions of Jonathon Ceglar (knee) and Jarryd Roughead (cancer).
Daniel Howe was underwhelming as Sicily's replacement, and would be the obvious candidate to make way. Billy Hartung, Will Langford and Matt Spangher are on the fringe of selection and could also be considered.
Puopolo was on Sunday asked about Hodge's indiscretion during Friday night's game, a moment typical of a heated encounter between the modern rivals. He said Hawthorn team rules allowed any member of the side to try to pacify a teammate.
"For us, anyone can say anything to anyone. So any player can go up to him and tell him to settle down," Puopolo told Channel Seven's AFL Game Day program.
Standing in the way of Hawthorn's run for a fourth straight premiership – an achievement that would equal Collingwood's record set between 1927 and 1930 – are the Dogs, who rested forward Toby McLean, midfielder Lukas Webb and backman Roarke Smith from Sunday's VFL semi-final against Essendon. The three would appear to lead the pack to replace midfielder Lin Jong, whose season came to a sudden halt when he broke his collarbone during last Thursday night's upset elimination final victory over West Coast at Domain Stadium.
Returning after a stint in the VFL, star forward Jake Stringer was relatively quiet against the Eagles. But also appearing on Channel Seven, Dogs assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa said Stringer had done what the club's coaching panel wanted.
"It was more of a workrate issue. He went back to VFL level. He did that really well," Giansiracusa said on Sunday.
"Obviously it's a disappointment to be left out of the side, but we were really happy with the way he went on Thursday night, he did some selfless things, he played on [Jeremy] McGovern for a little bit, nullified him. So we were happy with him. He kicked that goal late and gets the boys up and about. I think he'll be better for the run and [I'm] looking forward to seeing how he goes against Ben Stratton, whose probably one of the best defenders in the comp on Friday night."
Out-of-contract at the end of the season, veteran backman Matthew Boyd was again strong against West Coast, and Giansiracusa expected the 2016 All-Australian to sign a new contract with the club soon despite his manager Bruce Kaider claiming that the Dogs withdrew a contract offer to the former captain.
"He's been fantastic," Giansiracusa said. "He's one of those guys with a cool head in our back half with that experience, and he keeps the guys really calm. He's an intense unit Boydy, but he keeps them calm, and I'm sure that'll get sorted out."
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