Hawthorn have ruled Jack Gunston out of their AFL preliminary final against Fremantle.
Gunston, 23, missed the Hawks’ 74-point semi-final shellacking of Adelaide after injuring his ankle in a qualifying loss to West Coast.
Hawthorn football boss Chris Fagan said the club decided on Wednesday that his rehabilitation had not progressed to the point where he could play against Fremantle on Friday night.
“We’re happy with how he’s improved, but we don’t think that he’s quite at the level yet where he can play in a big final,” Fagan told the club’s website.
The Hawks haven’t ruled out Gunston returning in the grand final should the Hawks defeat the minor premiers at Domain Stadium.