AFL finals injury news: Will Day ruled out after Hawthorn’s session under lights

Despite joining his teammates on the track for a session under lights on Friday, Hawthorn has made a call on star midfielder Will Day ahead of the elimination final.

Will Day at Hawthorn training on Friday night. Picture: Michael Klein

Hawthorn star Will Day has been ruled out of the sudden death final against the Bulldogs.

Day, who suffered a partial dislocation of the joint between his sternum and collarbone in a collision against Richmond on August 18, joined his teammates for a special training session under lights at Punt Rd Oval on Friday night but the Hawks have conceded Day won’t be ready.

“Will certainly is improving, he has been able to resume running and has been training over the past week,” Hawthorn club doctor Liam West said on Saturday.

“But at this stage, Will hasn’t reached the level of function to return to full skills training yet and given his specific injury, we unfortunately know he won’t be able to achieve this in time to be considered for selection next week.

“We plan to progress Will’s rehab next week and remain hopeful that he may be available for the second week of finals, should we progress.”

Will Day is racing to be fit for the Hawks’ elimination final. Picture: Michael Klein

Day didn’t lift his right arm above his bead to mark the ball. Picture: Michael Klein

The 23-year-old was restricted on Friday night to running and a few kicks and did not join the main group for drills.

Day regularly shielded his right side by collecting the ball in his left hand and he didn’t raise his right arm above his head for marks.

“They (this type of injury) can settle down in 3-4 weeks if they are not high grade,” leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins said in the days after Day was hurt in an accidental bump with teammate Jai Newcombe. “I think the quickest ones settle down in 3-4 weeks. The slow ones, they just linger on for months and they have injections.”

Will Day pic.twitter.com/Vntabufw41

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Day’s value to Hawthorn is obvious. He won their best and fairest last year and the Hawks’ spectacular rise up the ladder from their 0-5 start to this season coincided with his return from a foot injury in round 7.

Day has played 16 matches this year for 12 wins.

Dylan Moore trains under lights. Picture: Michael Klein

Luke Breust ran the boundary. Picture: Michael Klein

Veterans Luke Breust and Jack Gunston were restricted to running laps at training.

Earlier the team met at the MCG for a meeting then wandered across Yarra Park for the 7pm session at Richmond’s home ground.

Training was closed but about a dozen diehard Hawthorn fans braved the chilly conditions to peer through the fence on Punt Rd.

The elimination final will be Hawthorn’s first Friday night game in Melbourne since 2022.