Hawthorn vice-captain Dylan Moore says housemate and reigning best and fairest Will Day was in “good spirits” after positive scans cleared him of major collarbone damage, but he won’t front up in the round 24 clash with North Melbourne.
The positive news around Day’s injury comes as midfield bull Jai Newcombe also declared he was “sore” but not injured following a nasty final-quarter incident in Sunday’s win over Richmond that has all but secured the Hawks a finals spot.
Day has suffered a partial dislocation of where his collarbone connects with his chest, meaning there is some hope he could play in an elimination final.
“We’ve seen one specialist who says no surgery, and hopefully the other one will say the same thing tomorrow,” Hawks coach Sam Mitchell told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“If we get through (to the finals) we’re hopeful he’s available.”
If the second specialist says Day requires surgery and he goes under the knife, he’ll be done for the year.
But defender Jack Scrimshaw is hoped to be available for this weekend after a compound dislocation of his finger and clean-out surgery.
“I live with Will and I came home and he was on the couch in full playing kit and in a sling,” Moore told SEN on Monday morning.
“It wasn’t a great sight, but his spirits are pretty high. He was shattered, he thought he had a broken collarbone.
“I assume he won’t play next week.”
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell confirmed Scrimshaw “popped his finger” and he could be replaced by Changkuoth Jiath if required, after he missed a second game due to calf tightness.
Newcombe landed awkwardly after a markings contest and spent several minutes with trainers before playing out the game.
He said post-match that his body was “feeling good” despite a tough day.
“It always hits a little bit less when you win,” he said.
“Tough day out there. Body is feeling good.”
Rising Star nominee Calsher Dear booted three goals in the victory, his second three-goal haul in the past two games, and Moore revealed just how far the 19-year-old had come in 2024 to become a key part of their surge back to the finals.
“And Sam (coach Sam Mitchell) was there and he was like, ‘Oh, God, this kid has got a long way to go’.
“Since that moment, Jack Gunston has worked really closely with him, just to help him with off-field, just the professionalism of being an off-field footballer. He had no idea.
“He hadn’t played much football and now he’s working so hard behind the scenes. No one watches more footage than Calsher and Gunners at the moment. He’s such a driven individual and his talent is a match.”
