Hawthorn skipper Luke Hodge is back at his fighting weight in time for Saturday’s AFL grand final.
Hodge, who missed last weekend’s preliminary final win against Adelaide through illness but will return for the grand final, lost close to two kilograms of body weight because of his gastroenteritis.
But the Hawks say Hodge has trained strongly this week.
And he showed no ill effects as he led his team through an hour-long session in front of more than 10,000 fans at Waverley Park in south-east Melbourne on Thursday.
“He lost a kilo or two but he’s put that back on,” Hawthorn director of coaching Chris Fagan said on Thursday.
“Hodgey’s had a good week on the track. He was back training with us on Monday and he’s prepared in the same manner that everybody else has.
“As far as we’re concerned he’s fully recovered. There’s been no signs to say otherwise.”
The Hawks say they have no other injury or illness concerns going into the clash with Sydney – a team with whom they have duelled in two of the best matches of the home-and-away season.
Sydney beat the Hawks in round five in Launceston.
Hawthorn can boast a recent win over the Swans, in which they rolled back a 38-point second quarter deficit to win by seven.
But Fagan disregarded any psychological edge as a result, or any stage-fright for those Hawks who weren’t part of the flag-winning team in 2008.
“All those games leading into the (grand final) were good for our preparation, but what happened in round 22 bears no relevance to what happens there,” Fagan said.
“Half of our team haven’t played in a grand final before, but it will be the best day of their lives.
“They’ve got about 10 or 11 teammates who’ve been there before who will be a great help to them.
“But we’ve played in a lot of big games this year and last year, so they’ll be ready for the challenge that’s coming.”
Wet weather, possible hail and low temperatures have been predicted for Saturday’s match.
But conditions could not have been further from that at Waverley Park on Thursday, with warm, sunny weather enticing a huge crowd to pack every possible vantage point to watch the Hawks train.
