Season over for young Hawk Mitch Lewis as Dogs in the wars over concussion, soft tissue injuries
Luckless young Hawk Mitch Lewis’ season is over after a serious injury on Saturday, while the Western Bulldogs are licking their wounds after their horror loss to Port Adelaide.
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Mitch Lewis’ unlucky run has continued with Hawthorn confirming the gun forward has suffered an ACL injury.
Lewis won’t play again this season after scans on his knee confirmed the Hawks worst fears following an incident in the final quarter of Saturday’s loss to Geelong.
The 25-year-old collided with Cats defender Jake Kolodjashnij after backing back with the flight of the ball and exited the game after copping a blow to the head.
He also hyper-extended his left knee in the incident which continues his cruel run of luck.
Hawthorn general manager of football Rob McCartney said the whole club was feeling for their star full-forward.
“He has worked so hard to get his body right and return to AFL level and this injury was a cruel blow,” McCartney said.
“While this will spell an end to his season, we are confident that with expert guidance of our medical team and the strength of Mitch’s character that he will work his way through the immediate challenges that lie ahead.
Mitch Lewis has come from the ground following this contest.#AFLCatsHawkspic.twitter.com/xn9z4I5oeQ
— AFL (@AFL) July 6, 2024
“Only being 25-years of age, I’m extremely confident that following his rehab Mitch has a bright future ahead in the brown and gold and is an integral part of what we are building at our football club.
“Most importantly, our focus at present is to support Mitch and wrap our arms around him.”
Lewis was playing just his fourth game of the season against Geelong after missing almost three months with a cartilage issue in his left knee.
He has endured a history of knee problems, including an ACL scare in late January last year.
Lewis missed the first six rounds of 2023 before returning to follow up his breakout 2022 campaign by kicking 36 goals from 15 appearances.
BULLDOGS LICK WOUNDS AFTER HORROR LOSS
The Western Bulldogs have been handed a hellish injury update with star full back Liam Jones to miss up to a month with a medial ligament sprain and prime movers James Harmes and Jason Johannisen out again with fresh soft tissue concerns.
The Dogs will take on Carlton on Saturday afternoon without key position players Aaron Naughton and James O’Donnell, who have entered the concussion protocol.
They had hoped to welcome back star full back Jones after he failed a fitness test last week but scans have shown he will be out for two to four weeks.
The Dogs are hopeful he might push that timeline as Naughton did with a recent medial ligament injury.
He missed five games with a broken arm last year at a critical stage of the year and the Dogs went 2-3 as they faded from finals contention.
The Dogs are hopeful Cody Weightman (groin) might play against Carlton after he got through some running over the weekend.
He would have to train well to convince the medicos he is ready to play despite groin overload issues.
Defender Johannisen was nearing a return but tore his calf again and will be out for 5-7 weeks, while Harmes pulled up sore in the VFL and will be out with a recurrence of his hamstring injury.
The Dogs will have to prove their depth is elite given the key injuries, which come with youngster Jordan Croft again sidelined.
The No. 15 draft pick had only just returned from concussion but after soreness a stress reaction has been detected in his thigh so he will be out for several months.
The Dogs believed they could set up their season for a strong top four finals push but lost to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval and now have to deal with the savage injury fallout.
The club has strongly backed in coach Luke Beveridge, who is contracted to 2025, but a second season missing finals would attract more attention on his tenure.
The 8-8 Dogs take on the Blues, Geelong in Geelong, Sydney away and then Melbourne at Marvel Stadium in a season-defining month ahead
Originally published as Season over for young Hawk Mitch Lewis as Dogs in the wars over concussion, soft tissue injuries
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