Hawks put Jiath on ice for ‘Harley Reid Cup’ game

Hawthorn has revealed an important defender will be missing through injury ahead of a clash with fellow cellar dwellers West Coast.

Changkuoth Jiath has been ruled out of the Hawks’ clash against West Coast with a calf strain. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

Hawthorn defender Changkuoth Jiath will miss the club’s clash with 17th-placed West Coast due to a calf strain, the Hawks have revealed.

The 23-year-old has been ruled out ahead of a bizarre game which most fans of both sides would rather lose due to the increased likelihood of snapping up exciting Victorian midfielder Harley Reid in this year’s draft.

Clubs view the 18-year-old as the clear No. 1 pick, with one of Hawthorn, West Coast and North Melbourne to gain access by finishing bottom of the ladder.

Hawthorn high performance manager Peter Burge said Jiath was a chance to play the week after, but the club was yet to confirm a timeline for his return.

Hawthorn says defender Changkuoth Jiath will miss at least a week with a calf strain. Picture: Darrian Traynor / Getty Images

“He had some scans and there was a bit of bleeding, so it was diagnosed as a calf strain,” Burge said.

“We will be able to be more exact with that timeline, more likely next week, once he’s up and moving again.”

He said young midfielder Josh Ward would miss another week with his foot complaint.

“(Ward) won’t play this weekend, but I would anticipate we would progress him through a running program this week and look at next week potentially bringing him back in some training,” Burge said.

“We will reassess at the start of next week and hopefully be more precise with his timeline.”

Fellow 2021 draftee Jai Serong will make his return through the VFL this weekend after making a full recovery from pericarditis, which sidelined him in late March.

Classy forward Ben Ainsworth will return to the Gold Coast side to face Brisbane after overcoming a corky. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

Burge said the athletic forward had trained fully for two weeks and may have played in the VFL last weekend if Box Hill did not have the bye.

Gold Coast has received better news on the injury front, with important forward Ben Ainsworth cleared to return after missing two weeks with a corked quad.

Halfback Ben Long will also return for the Q Clash against the Brisbane Lions after missing the win over the Eagles with back soreness.

The Suns are hopeful of regaining pressure forward Nick Holman, who has missed the last two weeks with a toe injury.

Holman will need to undergo a test to prove his fitness.

Originally published as Hawks put Jiath on ice for ‘Harley Reid Cup’ game