Blow For Hawks' Midfield

The Age

Thursday May 29, 2008

Jake Niall

HAWTHORN'S midfield faces a major challenge on Saturday, with Shane Crawford doubtful for the Launceston blockbuster against the Western Bulldogs, the game in which Luke Hodge will be absent again.

While Crawford has finished his latest suspension for an indiscretion in the last Tasmanian game against Port Adelaide, the 1999 Brownlow medallist is still hampered by a sore knee which, according to football manager Mark Evans, will be assessed today.

More likely than not, Crawford will miss out, which makes the availability of skipper Sam Mitchell all the more significant, considering that the Hawthorn midfield would otherwise be significantly depleted - already without Hodge and probably Crawford - against one of the better running outfits in the competition.

Mitchell did not hesitate to accept his reprimand for tripping against Melbourne, rather than contest the charge and risk suspension. He is now ineligible for the Brownlow.

Hodge suffered a bad hamstring tear back in round seven against Collingwood, which might keep him out for four matches.

Hawthorn's struggles to defeat Melbourne were in part due to the Demons' intensity and commitment, but the unbeaten Hawks also were significantly down on midfield manpower, with Hodge and Crawford missing, and the increasingly influential Jordan Lewis a late withdrawal.

The Hawks had to rely heavily on a small number of midfielders, especially Brad Sewell, Mitchell and Chance Bateman, who performed well and looms as a critical player against the fleet-of-foot Bulldogs. The Bulldogs will have the stronger running division, but an obvious vulnerability to Hawthorn's tall forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead.

? Collingwood forward Ben Reid, the club's first pick in the 2006 national draft, has agreed to a two-year contract extension. Reid, affected somewhat by injury this year, is contracted until the end of 2010.

The Magpies are also understood to be close to securing promising key defender Nathan Brown on a three-year deal, to the end of 2011.

© 2008 The Age

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