Hawks pinning hopes on Lewis avoiding ACL reconstruction

HAWTHORN is hopeful Mitch Lewis will show enough improvement in the next 10 days to dodge the worst-case ACL reconstruction.

The Hawks are planning for early clashes without their key forward after Lewis suffered an ACL sprain at training.

While he finished the session, he reported swelling and scans revealed the damage.

Hawthorn said last week “early signs” suggested the injury wouldn’t need surgery, but the Hawks will know more in coming days.

The club is hopeful he will not need ACL surgery but can’t yet rule out that season-ending scenario until it monitors Lewis’s progress.

Hawthorn’s list is so inexperienced it can ill-afford to lose its stars if it wants to replicate last year’s eight victories.

The Hawks have winnable early-season games against Essendon (round 1), North Melbourne (round 3), GWS (round 5) and Adelaide (round 6).

The club believes it can build a forward line around Lewis, with fellow attacking star Jack Gunston having moved to Brisbane as part of free agency last October.

In Gunston’s absence, Jacob Koschitzke will get a great chance to lead the forward line after 27 goals in a breakout 2021.

The club signed 187cm Box Hill forward Fergus Greene in November and has big plans for him after 53 VFL goals last year, while 2021’s No.53 draft pick Jai Serong is a 192cm forward.

They are both expected to get chances in the club’s preseason games, with the Hawks also attempting to sort out the ruck pecking order.

Ex-Fremantle ruckman Lloyd Meek has been exceptional across the summer, but with only three goals in 15 AFL games is not seen as a prototypical ruck-forward.

Ex-Pie Max Lynch has kicked goals in recent match scrimmages, while Ned Reeves is returning from an August shoulder reconstruction.

The club also has mid-season pick-up Max Ramsden as a 202cm ruckman and the 19year-old has an excellent tank that the club hopes will see him make it as an AFL player.

The Hawks have a threeday camp in Gippsland that will include a Wednesday junior clinic in Morwell at 4pm.

The club will talk through its leadership structure at the camp. James Sicily is the leading candidate but Sam Mitchell said the decision would come from a player vote.