Gifted small forward Cyril Rioli is an unlikely starter for Hawthorn in Friday night’s AFL qualifying final against Sydney as he battles to overcome an ankle injury.
The 2008 premiership player missed last week’s round-23 win over the Swans and also failed to train with the main group at Waverley Park on Thursday.
However coach Alastair Clarkson named Rioli in his side and is prepared to give the 2012 All-Australian every chance to prove his fitness for the match that offers a direct route to the preliminary final in a fortnight.
“He’s under a bit of a cloud, Cyril,” Clarkson told reporters on Thursday.
“We’ll make an assessment on him probably tomorrow morning.
“He tried to train (on Tuesday) and there was just a little bit of discomfort there so we pulled him back.
“He’s done some running … this morning so we’ll wait and see how he pulls up from that and if he’s okay, we’ll play him.
“If he’s not then we won’t be taking a risk.”
Key forward Lance Franklin will miss the first-versus-fourth qualifying final through suspension.
However the Hawks can still boast a strong forward line led by Coleman Medallist Jarryd Roughead (68 goals).
Hawthorn can expect a stiff test in defence with the return to Sydney’s attack of the 202cm, 104kg Kurt Tippett, who has booted 33 goals in 10 games in 2013.
Tippett kicked four goals for Adelaide in last year’s five-point preliminary final loss to the Hawks, but Clarkson is banking on ex-Western Bulldog Brian Lake to cut down Sydney’s tall timber.
Mike Pyke (26 goals) is second in the league for contested marks while fellow big man Jesse White (19 goals) also presents an attacking threat.
“They’re formidable up there with those three guys,” Clarkson said.
“He (Lake) is going to be up against three pretty big blokes.
“He (Tippett) is a big boy and so’s Pyke and also White down there.”
Clarkson says restricting midfield supply will be crucial but he admits Tippett is the man to stop.
“We know he’s a good player. We haven’t played against him with Lake in our side either,” Clarkson said.
“At least we’ve got a bigger stronger body in there who can maybe cope.”
Lake will concede 7cm to Tippett but has the experience and bulk to go with him body to body, Clarkson says.
“He’s played over 200 games and he’s played that role against the big guys nearly his whole career,” Clarkson said.
Tippett is one of four inclusions for the Swans alongside premiership trio Nick Smith, Dan Hannebery and Lewis Jetta.
The pacy Jetta has been out of the senior team since round 10 with a shin injury and played in the Swans’ reserves team last week.
Ruckman Max Bailey and defender Brent Guerra come into the Hawthorn side with Rioli.
Clarkson says last year’s loss to Sydney in the grand final will motivate his players.
“We’re better prepared because we know the outcome of what happened last year so that prepares us and steels us a little bit,” he said.
