Hawks duo placed on birth alert for match
A COUPLE of premiership Hawks may have more to worry about than playing against Gold Coast in Launceston today.
Ben McEvoy and Paul Puopolo both have heavily pregnant wives at home in Melbourne and they are counting down until labour.
It poses a potentially tricky situation for Hawthorn officials, who will not stand in the way of either father-to-be going home for the birth of their children.
Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson says they have cover, should they need it.
“Ben McEvoy’s wife’s about to go into labour, so (Marc Pittonet is) travelling for us just in case that labour occurs over the next 24 hours – then Ben probably won’t play but we’ll just wait and see how that unfolds,” Clarkson said at Melbourne airport yesterday before flying to Launceston.
“Paul Puopolo’s going through exactly the same thing with his wife, Carmel, so if both the girls go into labour then both those guys may not play, but we’ll just wait and see.”
The Hawks are just outside the eight on percentage with a 7-5 record, while the 15thranked Suns are on a sevengame losing slide.
Clarkson has highlighted his side’s struggles to make the most of scoring opportunities.
He pointed to a lack of continuity with personnel inside the attacking 50 as a factor, with Shaun Burgoyne, Cyril Rioli and Puopolo all missing games.