Mitchell in doubt for Hawks in AFL

Hawthorn are sweating on the fitness of playmaker Sam Mitchell ahead of the Easter Monday AFL blockbuster against Geelong.

Mitchell missed the Hawks’ round-two clash against Essendon with a calf complaint, but returned to play in the last two matches.

However, he underwent scans on his return to Melbourne with the team that thrashed the Suns on the Gold Coast last week.

Coach Alastair Clarkson wouldn’t be drawn on the exact nature of Mitchell’s concern, but admitted he would need to pull up well from a Sunday training session to take his place in the side.

“We’re hoping he’ll play tomorrow, but he’s training here today so we’ll wait and see,” Clarkson said.

“His fitness test will be training, so if he gets through training he should play.”

Clarkson looked on as Mitchell appeared unhindered during a light 45-minute session at Waverley with his recovery overnight the key to his availability.

Despite concerns over Mitchell’s fitness, the Hawks will go into the top-of-the-table clash favoured to win the battle of the last two unbeaten sides in the competition, but Clarkson said that would count for little once the ball was bounced.

“Both sides are undefeated, but who cares who’s going better than the other really?” he said.

“It doesn’t mean much when you run out there.

“We know it’s going to be frantic.

“We’re two really good sides and have been for a long time, so it will be a hectic encounter tomorrow.

“”We’re well beneath where we’d like to be in terms of the last 11 encounters that we’ve had against this side and we’ve got some ground to make up, simple as that.

“We rate ourselves a hell of a lot better than losing to the Cats 11 times in a row.

“We finally got one in the preliminary final (last year), which was nice to get, but we’ve got some ground to make up.”

Hawthorn welcome back ruckman Ben McEvoy and defender Ben Stratton for the big clash, while onballer Mitch Hallahan will make his debut.

Norm Smith medallist Brian Lake was named in the initial squad, but played in the VFL on Saturday and is no guarantee to return next week.

“It’s really important that we get some proper match conditioning into him,” Clarkson said.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!