Hawks Exercise Caution, Not Star

The Age

Wednesday March 1, 2006

JAKE NIALL

HAWTHORN will be minus its two marque players against Adelaide in Launceston on Saturday night with the club's no-risk policy meaning Shane Crawford will join Peter Everitt on the missing list.

Crawford has experienced some swelling to his knee and while the injury is not considered serious and would probably not cause him to miss a game during the regular season, the Hawks will not risk him or Everitt, who suffered some tightness in his hamstring last week.

Hawthorn's reluctance to risk Crawford is consistent with the attitude to pre-season games of most clubs where veteran superstars are concerned. Collingwood opted not to play Nathan Buckley in Perth this weekend, while Sydney was without Barry Hall and several older players last weekend and Essendon rested James Hird at Carrara.

Injury-prone forward John Barker is another Hawk veteran who will miss the game at the club's second home base of Aurora Stadium in Launceston. Barker, whose position on the list was not assured until he completed a fair chunk of pre-season training, hurt his shoulder in the boxing ring some weeks ago.

Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson last night said Crawford would be able to play had it been the regular season, but the Hawks would not take any risks at this stage. As with Everitt, the club wished to preserve his body for the home-and-away season. "Obviously, this time of year, we tend to apply a conservative policy."

Robson said Crawford had a modified training program at the club's new Waverley home because of his knee swelling, caused by a knock in a practice match.

Robson said Barker - whose shoulder was "loosened" after a stint in the ring with Luke Hodge - was also capable of playing had it been the regular season.

Consistent with the club's theme of resting ageing warriors, Hawthorn director and former champion Dermott Brereton, who is recovering from surgery, will not play in Hawthorn's "legends" match at Glenferrie Oval tomorrow night, an occasion that will be something of a farewell to Hawthorn's traditional base, along with Sunday's family day.

© 2006 The Age

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