Hawthorn will not have their important forward, Calsher Dear, for their elimination semi-final match against Adelaide. This is because tests showed that he has a hamstring strain. There are mixed opinions about what Collingwood should do with their returning star, Bobby Hill.
Dear was taken out of the game in the third quarter during Hawthorn’s victory over GWS last weekend. Initially, the team said this was a tactical choice. However, the club later confirmed that he will not be playing against the Crows. Still, it’s possible he could return later this season.
“We had a scan today that showed he has a mild to moderate hamstring injury,” said Peter Burge, Hawthorn’s high performance manager. “He will go through a short rehab process. He will not play this weekend and we will look at his situation again next week. He can still play this season, depending on how far we can go, but he won’t be on the field this week. “
The Hawks have only a six-day break before their game against Adelaide. Coach Sam Mitchell could call up Mitch Lewis, who scored four goals in a VFL match last weekend. Unfortunately, teammate Harry Morrison is out for the rest of the season due to a quadriceps injury after playing 20 games this year.
Dear contributed three plays that led to scores and scored one goal in Hawthorn’s 107-88 win over GWS. His absence is a significant setback for Mitchell’s team, as losing this game would mean the end of their season, while a win would take them to a preliminary final against Geelong.
“It’s important to note that Calsher has been on a special training program this year because of a stress fracture he had at the beginning of the season,” Burge explained. “He’s in his second year, but he has been training like a first-year player for the most part.
“Since he has a long career ahead of him, we need to keep improving his fitness and help him adjust to high-intensity football. Playoffs are at a whole new level. So, it’s unfortunate he won’t be on the field this week, but we will start him on a running program, and hopefully, he can return before the season ends. “
Should Collingwood bring Bobby Hill back?
The other preliminary final will feature Collingwood against the winner between Brisbane and Gold Coast. The Pies have some tough choices to make about Bobby Hill and Jeremy Howe, who were both key players in their 2023 championship victory.
Hill has barely played for the past few months due to personal matters, but he participated in a VFL practice match over the weekend and scored four goals. On the Sunday Footy Show on Channel 9, football star Isaac Smith mentioned that he would only need to see that performance to make his decision.
I’m not aware of details beyond what’s in the game, but I see Bobby Hill as someone who can really help us in September. If he’s healthy and doing well, I would choose him as a coach,” Smith said. “I believe he can make our team stronger and shine in important games.
“You were saying off the record about choosing players fairly, and when it comes to finals, choosing fairly means putting together your strongest team to give your club and its fans the best shot at winning a championship. To me, having Bobby Hill on the team gives us a better chance. “
Nathan Brown and Mick McGuane wouldn’t include Bobby Hill
However, ex-Western Bulldogs and Richmond player Nathan Brown disagreed, saying he wouldn’t choose the Norm Smith medal winner. “I couldn’t choose him for the preliminary final,” Brown pointed out. “It’s not a matter of trust; it’s just that he hasn’t played enough games recently. They have a few younger players in, and there’s a spot for Bobby Hill, but I can’t have him play in a preliminary final based on what I’ve seen over the last two months. Yes, he is a Norm Smith Medallist, but if I were coaching, I would not start Bobby Hill in a prelim. “
