AFL high-flyers Hawthorn have been dealt a double blow, with superstar forward Lance Franklin and captain Luke Hodge sidelined for up to three weeks each with injury setbacks.
Franklin faces three weeks out with another problem with the hamstring he first injured a fortnight ago.
And Hodge, who hasn’t played in nearly three months, faces another two to three weeks out because of a setback with his troublesome knee.
Franklin underwent scans on Monday which have revealed some minor bleeding in
his left hamstring.
The club admits it was the same leg in which he experienced tightness after Hawthorn’s round 14 match against Carlton.
But he was cleared to play in the Hawks’ next match – the huge 162-point win over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on Sunday.
“Scans today have showed he has a bit of bleeding in the hamstring and we expect he’ll
miss up to three weeks,” Hawks football operations manager Mark Evans said on Monday night.
“Lance said he was feeling fine in the first half and playing without restriction or
awareness.
“After a marking contest in the third quarter, he came to the bench reporting a corked buttock and some tightness in his left hamstring.”
Franklin was substituted during the third quarter of Sunday’s match.
Hodge, who was initially injured in round six, reported to medical staff after training on Monday with some swelling in his knee which will delay his immediate return.
“Luke has had some fluid drained from his knee and we would expect it to settle
quickly,” Evans said.
“We anticipate Luke will be able to train at the end of this week, and depending on
how quickly the swelling settles, we expect him to resume playing within the
next two to three weeks.”
The fifth-placed Hawks play the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood and Essendon in their next three matches.