Hawthorn looks set to take a ruckman in the AFL’S mid-season draft

Hawthorn looks set to take a ruckman at the mid-season draft and he could even play for them this weekend.

The mid-season draft could provide the perfect opportunity for Hawthorn to solve its ruck issues, but Ned Reeves, the tallest man in the AFL, is looming as a timely inclusion for Sunday’s clash with Collingwood.

First-year Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has been without a recognised ruckman more often that he would like in 2022, with Max Lynch playing just six games and Reeves and none since he injured his shoulder in round 5.

Lynch is still overcoming his latest concussion, suffered in Round 10, and while he may yet be available to play the Suns, Mitchell said Reeves was more likely having completed enough training for them to be comfortable he’s nearly ready to go.

“He’s got enough strength in it now,” Mitchell said on Wednesday.

“He was pretty safe the week just gone. He’d only done one contact session to get there. It wasn’t enough for our threshold for a player who we think it‘s going to be important for our future.

“He’ll have four or five training sessions by the time we get to game time.”

Max Lynch is still battling concussion. Picture: Steve Bell/Getty Images

Despite the potential return of Reeves, and with Lynch a week away, Mitchell suggested picking up a ruckman in Wednesday night’s mid-season draft, and playing them straight away, wasn’t out of the question.

The Hawks have two picks in the draft and former Greater Western Sydney listed ruckman Tom Downie is a late draft bolter after undergoing a medical with Hawthorn and touring the club’s facilities.

“It wouldn’t be the first time someone has come off a mid-season draft and straight into a team, so there’s a possibility for that as well,” Mitchell said.

“There’s some rucks that are pretty high up on our list. If we get a ruck that will fix some short-terms. What we need is to make sure we get good people into our organisation and will be part of our next premiership side.”

Mitchell said gun midfielder Jaeger O’Meara, who missed the trip to Darwin last week, was also a chance to return to play the Magpies.

“We have another two training sessions this week,” Mitchell said.

“If he’s got any sort of signs or worrying we don’t risk him. We think he’ll probably play.”

Originally published as Hawthorn looks set to take a ruckman in the AFL’S mid-season draft