Fremantle coach Ross Lyon reckons Hawthorn are simply too classy to allow a worrying injury toll to kill off their premiership chances.
Lyon rates the Hawks, Swans and Power as the three flag fancies at the moment.
Hawthorn (6-2) are in the midst of an injury crisis that’s set to threaten their bid to land a top-two berth.
Brian Lake (calf), Cyril Rioli (hamstring), Sam Mitchell (hamstring) and Josh Gibson (torn pectoral) are all carrying significant injuries, while forward Jarryd Roughead will miss Saturday night’s top-of-the-table clash with Port Adelaide through suspension.
But Lyon said the defending premiers were too good to simply fall to bits.
“It challenges you, but they’ve proven over a long period of time that they can cover without those guys and get them ready for the pointy end,” Lyon told Perth radio station 6PR.
Hawthorn could welcome back three players for Saturday night’s blockbuster at Adelaide Oval
General manager of football operations Chris Fagan said yesterday that Luke Hodge will play after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Liam Shiels (shoulder) and Brad Sewell (hamstring) are also a chance to return, with Sewell making a successful comeback in the VFL on the weekend.
Port captain Travis Boak has made a call-to-arms to Port fans in the lead up to Saturday night.
Boak wrote a letter to reserved seat members of the club on Monday asking them to hand their membership card to a friend or family member if they were unable to make the 7:10pm match.
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“We’ve had our biggest crowds all year and we want to have another big one against the Hawks, it should be a huge night,” Boak said at a media conference Tuesday.
“The boys love playing in front of a big crowd and our fans know how much their support at the game gets us over the line.
“We want to make sure all our reserved seat members are at the game, and if they can’t be there, we’d love them to treat family or a friend to their seat for the game to cheer us on.”
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