Chad Wingard expected to play after tongue surgery this week

A star Hawthorn forward may not have to miss a single AFL game despite undergoing surgery on a gruesome injury earlier this week.

Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard is likely to play on Sunday despite suffering a lacerated tongue against GWS last weekend. Picture: Sarah Reed / Getty Images

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell expects forward Chad Wingard to play this weekend in a stunning recovery from a horror incident during the Hawks’ loss to GWS in Adelaide.

Wingard bit through his tongue and suffered a laceration after he was hit with a stray arm to the mouth during the second quarter of the Gather Round clash, but despite flying home to Melbourne early for surgery, he is set to line up against the Crows in Tasmania on Sunday.

Mitchell praised the resilience of the 29-year-old to bounce back in time for the clash, while he said promising key forward Mitch Lewis was a strong chance to return to the field next week.

“I just saw (Wingard) then and he has lost a little bit of weight – he hasn’t been able to eat for a few days,” Mitchell said.

Hawthorn forward Chad Wingard is expected to be available for Sunday’s clash against the Crows despite undergoing surgery on his tongue this week. Picture: Sarah Reed / Getty Images

“We expect him to get through training and come into the side and hopefully play a full game.

“He has had some rotten luck but handled it really well … while it has been horrible, it is the fastest-healing part of the body. We expect him to be available.

“We’ll see how (Lewis) gets through … he’ll have three sessions before the next game – one of those will be quite significant – making sure that he trains well and recovers well from that to put his hand up for selection next week.”

Mitchell said a decision was yet to be made on whether the 24-year-old returns via the VFL or is injected straight back into the senior side.

Lewis was one of the league’s most prolific key forwards in 2022 despite an injury-interrupted year, booting 37 goals in 15 games.

Mitchell Lewis is set to return for either Hawthorn or Box Hill next weekend after pushing for selection this week. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

He was due to return from an ACL sprain a fortnight ago but suffered a setback to his other knee in March, delaying his comeback.

“He wasn’t available this week, much to his disappointment. I think he would have called himself available, but our medical team have been really strong that next week is his first week as potentially available,” Mitchell said.

The Hawthorn coach indicated Max Lynch was a strong chance to be rewarded for his VFL performances with a call-up as the Hawks’ second ruckman against the Crows.

The former Magpie had 18 disposals and 43 hit-outs against his former teammates in slippery conditions at Box Hill City Oval, with Mitchell impressed by his improved forward craft.

“Max has worked really hard and in his past two games in particular at Box Hill, he has been the dominant big man,” Mitchell said.

“He was giving himself a lot of chances earlier in the year and getting his hands on a lot of footy, but not actually finishing work.

“His physicality around the ball has been really good in the last two weeks at Box Hill.”