INJURY REPORT: Hawk Key forward eyeing return

Hawthorn’s key forward Mitch Lewis faces a fitness test ahead of the team’s match against North Melbourne on Sunday. Lewis has been sidelined for the past two weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained after the club’s Easter Monday clash with Geelong, followed by a separate knee issue.

Hawthorn’s High Performance Manager, Peter Burge, stated that Lewis needs to complete a final training session on Friday to be considered for selection. Burge mentioned that while Lewis’s hamstring is fine, the club has been managing a knee niggle, which is showing improvement.

Additionally, defender Changkuoth Jiath will also undergo a fitness test ahead of the weekend’s game after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the pre-season. Jiath is likely to feature for Box Hill in the VFL on Saturday as part of his gradual return to match fitness.

However, forward Luke Breust is expected to remain sidelined for another two weeks due to ongoing groin soreness. According to Burge, Breust’s recovery has not progressed as quickly as anticipated, and he requires further improvement in strength measures and comfort during high-intensity training before returning to match play.

Meanwhile, Chad Wingard is nearing his return to action, with Burge indicating that the 30-year-old is approximately two weeks away from potentially resuming match play. Wingard has been participating in full skills training with the team for the past fortnight.

Lastly, Ned Reeves and Josh Bennetts have been added to the injury list after sustaining concussions in Box Hill’s recent game against Go

ld Coast.