Key Hawk set to return as Lions suffer injury setbacks
Chol has missed two games with a groin complaint but the Hawks rate him a certainty for Friday night's blockbuster against Adelaide.
"He trained at the end of last week ... we just made the decision to give him another two training sessions to have him absolutely ready for this week," Hawthorn's high performance manager Peter Burge said.
Second-placed Adelaide plan for key defender Jordon Butts to resume contact training late this week after suffering a punctured lung two weeks ago.
"That means probably a week or two after that, he'll be available to play," the Crows' fitness boss Darren Burgess said.
Recruit Isaac Cumming, who missed the record 98-point thrashing of Port Adelaide due to a calf issue, looms as a candidate to replace Max Michalanney, out four to six weeks because of a hamstring tear.
Brisbane's eye-catching forward Kai Lohmann will likely miss the rest of the home-and-away rounds after scans confirmed the extent of his calf injury.
Brisbane say Lohmann will be sidelined three to four weeks and utility Connor McKenna (hamstring) will miss a month.
And luckless Lion Keidean Coleman, who has played just two AFL games in the past two seasons, is out for six to eight weeks with a thigh strain suffered in the VFL.
Third-placed Brisbane meet ladder-leaders Collingwood, set to be bolstered by the return of veteran Scott Pendlebury (corked thigh) and Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, who kicked three goals in the VFL in his first match in five weeks.
The Magpies' influential backman Jeremy Howe is also set to return from a two-game absence due to a groin injury.
Gold Coast vice-captain Touk Miller is in the frame for a rapid recall from a knee injury.
Initially slated to miss a month, Miller could return against Richmond after missing only two matches.
And 17th-placed North Melbourne expect spearhead Nick Larkey to return to play St Kilda after missing three games with a knee injury.
The Saints, still buzzing from Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera's match-winning feats last Sunday, could have a batch of players available for selection.
Midfielder Mattaes Phillipou is set to resume main training for the first time since suffering a foot injury in round 12. He was a late withdrawal two rounds later after aggravating the injury.
Sidelined Saints Lance Collar (shin), Isaac Keeler (hamstring), Hugo Garcia (wrist) and Jack Carroll (knee) face fitness tests.
Sydney have ruled out Logan McDonald (ankle) for the remainder of the season but Tom McCartin could return from concussion for their clash against Essendon.
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Mercury
2 hours ago
- Mercury
AFL news: Hawthorn star Will Day injured again, should he have played on against Adelaide Crows
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. COMMENT Hawthorn has copped a crushing blow with star midfielder Will Day ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of his worrying foot issues. But a closer look at his struggles during Friday night's 14-point loss to Adelaide surely raises some question marks over why he played out the match. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The 24-year-old Day, who missed six games in 2024 with a foot issue, was forced out of another 16 matches this season following surgery on a navicular bone after the round three clash with GWS. He had only returned against the Blues in round 20 but picked up yet another foot injury against the Crows, with the club confirming he has another 'bone stress injury' in his foot. Day was sent for scans in Melbourne on Saturday following the 14-point loss against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval and revealed another navicular issue. Will Day coming from the ground and at the airport on Saturday. Photos: Getty Images/News Corp 'We know Will has put in a mountain of work to get back to playing, and indeed performing, at the elite level and we are really disappointed for him,' Hawthorn football manager Rob McCartney said in a statement. 'The club's medical and high performance team have taken extra precautions with Will throughout his rehabilitation this year. 'This included very closely managing his workload and consulting external specialists both in Victoria and interstate to help guide his return to play timeline. 'Will is an outstanding person who has showcased an incredible amount of resilience and we know he will engage his rehab with the same attitude. 'As a club, we will obviously support Will throughout every stage of his rehabilitation and wrap our arms around him as he navigates this tough period.' He appeared to be in a fair bit of pain on the bench. Photo: Fox Sports There were various reports that Day had been stomped on during the game. Day was also the subject of some fierce speculation over a possible flaunting of the rules deep in the fourth quarter when play was stopped and he was taken from the ground with apparent cramp. But the fact Day was playing with a broken bone in his foot must paint that speculation in a different light. The youngster was seen struggling to shake off a leg problem at various times during the game, particularly in the final term. He also started the second half on the bench and was shown getting treatment midway through the fourth term. And yet he continued coming back onto the ground. Yes it was a close game and the Hawks are in a finals battle, but surely his long-term future is of paramount importance and any hint of a foot problem should have set off alarm bells. Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall noted Day was on the bench after halftime, while the midfielder appeared to be favouring his right foot before he came on. It all came after Hawthorn kicked the first five goals of the match, before the Crows responded with seven straight and held the Hawks scoreless in the second term to leave the Victorian club under the pump to start that third quarter. 'Interesting Will Day is starting on the bench second half,' Dunstall said. 'I would've thought you'd want him front and centre.' Day getting worked on in the fourth quarter before he returned to the game. Photo: Fox Sports Fellow commentator Garry Lyon then noticed Day returning to the bench. 'You talked about Will Day not starting in the centre bounce which we all find a little unusual,' Lyon said. 'He's just emerged from up the race.' Anthony Hudson added: 'That will make Hawthorn fans nervous.' Day finally entered the second half at the 16-minute mark of the third quarter and battled to play out the game, despite clearly having trouble with the foot. 'He's coming off Will Day,' Dunstall said in the fourth quarter. 'He just copped a couple of knocks there, he's spent and needs a spell. 'They'll need another effort from him late.' Jack Ginnivan with Day in a happier moment earlier in the game. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images) Pick six in the 2020 draft, Day ultimately spent 71 per cent of the game on the ground, finishing with 19 disposals, nine tackles and seven clearances. But he appeared in more discomfort the longer the game went and didn't return after going off the ground with just over three minutes remaining. When he went off, with the commentators all focusing on cramp, Lyon said: 'It's not Will Day's fault. 'It's the umpire who should've identified 'no, you've got a cramp, get out of the road and get on with it'.' Considering what we know now, perhaps there was more to it than simply cramp, and the situation raised eyebrows on social media. After the news of the injury broke, journalist Ronny Lerner tweeted: 'Wow. That's extremely concerning to have two bouts of that in such quick succession. Reminds me of James Hird. Almost ended his career. Hawks have to take an extremely conservative approach with such an important player.' Day is facing another long rehabilitation and time out of the game. Picture: NewsWire/Luis Enrique Ascui One X user replied to Lerner: 'Foot injury management will be professional in the AFL one day.' Another fan wrote: 'According to the morons commentating on the game it was only a cramp.' Kane Cornes slammed Day's 'cramping' situation on on Saturday morning. 'What are we doing stopping the game for cramp?' he said. 'Football is about the hardest, toughest football team wins and we are giving a team an advantage because one of their players is under prepared and can't get through.' X user Michael Emmerson noted that, tweeting: 'Kane Cornes, love your work, but will you be apologising along with the Seven commentary team regarding Day's cramp when actually it was a serious injury?' From where we sit, it's a fair question. Originally published as Eyebrows raised over Hawthorn star Will Day's latest injury
ABC News
9 hours ago
- ABC News
Wallabies beat Lions but are left to reflect on what could've been
Winning a dead rubber in sport can produce a range of feelings. Such a victory can boost morale, while providing relief from the humiliation of another defeat. Conversely, they can also act as a reminder of what could've been. For the Wallabies, in their three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions, it should be the latter. While the 22-12 triumph over the British and Lions in the third and final Test in Sydney meant they avoided a series whitewash, the result will also make them reflect on missed opportunities. The Wallabies offered up a meek performance in the first Test, which they lost 27-19 in Brisbane. They were dominated in the collisions on both sides of the ball and sorely missed the physicality of injured forwards Rob Valetini and Will Skelton. At one stage, the Wallabies trailed 24-5 and only added respectability to the scoreline after the Lions effectively put the cue in the rack, knowing their opponents were already beaten. The shoe was on the other foot the following week in Melbourne, with the Wallabies producing a largely clinical display in the opening 30 minutes to establish a 23-5 lead. As much as the Jac Morgan-Carlo Tizzano incident in the final minute of play was cited as the trigger for the Wallabies' downfall, the failure to protect their scoreboard advantage underpinned the 29-26 defeat to the Lions at the MCG. It wasn't a skill deficiency or poor match fitness that allowed the Lions back into the contest, rather the Wallabies' lack of confidence as a squad conspired against them. They didn't appear to have the self-belief required to put the Lions to the sword. The second Test loss isn't an isolated event in this regard, as the Wallabies have coughed up sizeable leads during their barren Bledisloe Cup run since handing over the silverware to the All Blacks in 2003. If the Wallabies are to become a World Cup contender again, they must rediscover the ability to land the knockout punch when they have teams on the ropes. Player depth is another concern, although to coach Joe Schmidt's credit he's made an effort to address the issue, having handed 19 players Test debuts in 2024. But world-class depth is elusive at this stage, as the Lions series illustrated. Yes, there are positions where it could be argued the Wallabies go at least two deep in terms of Test-standard players, such as openside flanker, where Fraser McReight and Tizzano are available. But the Wallabies' options are limited in other positions, most notably fly-half. Tom Lynagh showed potential against the Lions, but he wasn't in the same class as Finn Russell, who expertly steered the tourists' attack wearing the 10 jersey. The Wallabies next face the two-time defending world champion Springboks in back-to-back Rugby Championship Tests in South Africa, beginning in a fortnight. Where Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is selected may be of interest, as there is debate about whether the ex-Sydney Rooster should be shifted from outside centre to wing. If Suaalii's moves out one spot, Hunter Paisami may be recalled to the midfield, allowing Len Ikitau to return to his preferred position at outside centre. Would Schmidt consider a left-field option such as using Ikitau's Brumbies teammate David Feliuai at inside centre, given their effectiveness as a combination in Super Rugby Pacific? Perhaps that would be throwing caution to the wind, but the Rugby Championship does give Schmidt the opportunity to look at fresh faces across some positions. It would be a shock if the likes of the uncapped Ryan Lonergan and Joe Brial aren't on his radar when it comes to naming his wider squad. Bob Dwyer famously used the Wallabies' 2-1 series loss to the Lions in 1989 to take stock of what his squad lacked two years out from a World Cup. Realising there were players not — or no longer — of Test quality, he ushered in eight debutants in the Wallabies' next two internationals against the All Blacks and France, including 1991 World Cup heroes Tony Daly, Phil Kearns, Rod McCall, Tim Horan and Jason Little. Schmidt, who will be replaced in his role by Les Kiss next year, isn't expected to participate in any bloodletting. But like Dwyer did 36 years ago, he needs to assess whether the current squad is comprised of players that will be a chance of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup when Australia hosts the World Cup in 2027. The Lions series won't just provide lessons for the Wallabies, as Australian rugby as a whole needs to learn how it can improve. There must be takeaways for the semi-professional and grassroot levels of the game, which will hopefully benefit from the financial windfall the cash-strapped Rugby Australia will enjoy from the tour. During his career, World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Graham Henry spoke several times of the transformative nature of the Lions' visit to New Zealand in 1971. The Lions, coached by Welshman Carwyn James, won the four-Test series against the All Blacks, with Henry describing the tour as "very influential on New Zealand rugby". "I think the '71 Lions won the first World Cup (in 1987) for us because we had to change our game," Henry said in 2005. "That shook the foundations of New Zealand rugby and from the top down things changed." Time will tell what impact the 2025 Lions will have on Australian rugby. But it would be hoped their defeat of the Wallabies can inspire young coaches and players locally in similar way to what Henry experienced.
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Eyebrows raised over Hawthorn star Will Day's latest injury
Hawthorn has copped a crushing blow with star midfielder Will Day ruled out for the rest of the season with a recurrence of his worrying foot issues. But a closer look at his struggles during Friday night's 14-point loss to Adelaide surely raises some question marks over why he played out the match. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The 24-year-old Day, who missed six games in 2024 with a foot issue, was forced out of another 16 matches this season following surgery on a navicular bone after the round three clash with GWS. He had only returned against the Blues in round 20 but picked up yet another foot injury against the Crows, with the club confirming he has another 'bone stress injury' in his foot. Day was sent for scans in Melbourne on Saturday following the 14-point loss against Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval and revealed another navicular issue. 'We know Will has put in a mountain of work to get back to playing, and indeed performing, at the elite level and we are really disappointed for him,' Hawthorn football manager Rob McCartney said in a statement. 'The club's medical and high performance team have taken extra precautions with Will throughout his rehabilitation this year. 'This included very closely managing his workload and consulting external specialists both in Victoria and interstate to help guide his return to play timeline. 'Will is an outstanding person who has showcased an incredible amount of resilience and we know he will engage his rehab with the same attitude. 'As a club, we will obviously support Will throughout every stage of his rehabilitation and wrap our arms around him as he navigates this tough period.' There were various reports that Day had been stomped on during the game. Day was also the subject of some fierce speculation over a possible flaunting of the rules deep in the fourth quarter when play was stopped and he was taken from the ground with apparent cramp. But the fact Day was playing with a broken bone in his foot must paint that speculation in a different light. The youngster was seen struggling to shake off a leg problem at various times during the game, particularly in the final term. He also started the second half on the bench and was shown getting treatment midway through the fourth term. And yet he continued coming back onto the ground. Yes it was a close game and the Hawks are in a finals battle, but surely his long-term future is of paramount importance and any hint of a foot problem should have set off alarm bells. Fox Footy commentator Jason Dunstall noted Day was on the bench after halftime, while the midfielder appeared to be favouring his right foot before he came on. It all came after Hawthorn kicked the first five goals of the match, before the Crows responded with seven straight and held the Hawks scoreless in the second term to leave the Victorian club under the pump to start that third quarter. 'Interesting Will Day is starting on the bench second half,' Dunstall said. 'I would've thought you'd want him front and centre.' Fellow commentator Garry Lyon then noticed Day returning to the bench. 'You talked about Will Day not starting in the centre bounce which we all find a little unusual,' Lyon said. 'He's just emerged from up the race.' Anthony Hudson added: 'That will make Hawthorn fans nervous.' Day finally entered the second half at the 16-minute mark of the third quarter and battled to play out the game, despite clearly having trouble with the foot. 'He's coming off Will Day,' Dunstall said in the fourth quarter. 'He just copped a couple of knocks there, he's spent and needs a spell. 'They'll need another effort from him late.' Pick six in the 2020 draft, Day ultimately spent 71 per cent of the game on the ground, finishing with 19 disposals, nine tackles and seven clearances. But he appeared in more discomfort the longer the game went and didn't return after going off the ground with just over three minutes remaining. When he went off, with the commentators all focusing on cramp, Lyon said: 'It's not Will Day's fault. 'It's the umpire who should've identified 'no, you've got a cramp, get out of the road and get on with it'.' Considering what we know now, perhaps there was more to it than simply cramp, and the situation raised eyebrows on social media. After the news of the injury broke, journalist Ronny Lerner tweeted: 'Wow. That's extremely concerning to have two bouts of that in such quick succession. Reminds me of James Hird. Almost ended his career. Hawks have to take an extremely conservative approach with such an important player.' One X user replied to Lerner: 'Foot injury management will be professional in the AFL one day.' Another fan wrote: 'According to the morons commentating on the game it was only a cramp.' Kane Cornes slammed Day's 'cramping' situation on on Saturday morning. 'What are we doing stopping the game for cramp?' he said. 'Football is about the hardest, toughest football team wins and we are giving a team an advantage because one of their players is under prepared and can't get through.' X user Michael Emmerson noted that, tweeting: 'Kane Cornes, love your work, but will you be apologising along with the Seven commentary team regarding Day's cramp when actually it was a serious injury?'
