Hawthorn prepare for late changes against Gold Coast in Launceston

Hawthorn are preparing for the prospect of two unusual late changes ahead of today’s clash against Gold Coast/

Hawthorn’s Paul Puopolo is one of two players who could be forced to make a dash home. Picture: Mark Stewart

Hawthorn are preparing for the prospect of two unusual late changes ahead of today’s clash against Gold Coast in Launceston, as they seek to continue their ­finals push.

With his wife about to give birth, forward Paul Puopolo opted against flying to Tasmania with his teammates yesterday and will ­instead make a late dash today ­either to Tasmania or to the hospital ­depending on what unfolds.

And the three-time premiership forward is not the only Hawk with childbirth on his mind; ruckman Ben McEvoy is also considering his travel plans should his wife go into labour.

Mindful that both senior players are determined to attend to family duties, the Hawks have planned ahead to ensure Puopolo and McEvoy are in Melbourne if they are needed.

Adding to the reshuffle concerns, ruckman Jonathon Ceglar was a late withdrawal yesterday after having failed to overcome the corked thigh he received in last week’s defeat of the Crows.

This means Hawthorn could turn to the largely untried back-up Marc Pittonet, who has travelled to Launceston as an emergency.

Pittonet, 22, played three games in 2016 when the Hawks opted to give the fledgling ruckman a trial and has performed consistently in the VFL since, but the durability of McEvoy has starved him of opportunities at the top level.

“He is travelling with us just in case that labour occurs over the next 24 hours, then Ben probably won’t play,” coach Alastair Clarkson said. “We will wait and see how that unfolds. It will all depend on the pregnancy. I am hardly an ­expert in that space but Ben wants to be at the birth.

“Paul Puopolo is going through exactly the same thing with his wife Carmel. If both the girls go into labour, then both those guys may not play, but we will wait and see how that unfolds.”

Teia Miles has travelled to ­Tasmania as an option to replace Puopolo.

While Gold Coast are going through a horror patch, Clarkson is understandably mindful that they can perform better than they have shown in recent weeks.

The Hawks were hammered by the Suns on the Gold Coast in April last year and then fell to them for a second time in the same season in June at the MCG.

“We have had some trouble (with them),” Clarkson said. “Despite ladder positions and form over the last little while, the Gold Coast present a pretty formidable challenge for us and we need to ­address past form rather than ­addressing what has happened over the past two or three weeks.”

And there is good reason the potential absence of McEvoy, combined with the loss of Ceglar, is a concern. For during those two losses last year, Gold Coast ruckman Jarrod Witts was able to give the Suns first use of the football in the midfield.

There is no clarity as to when Cyril Rioli, who has gone home to Darwin for family reasons, will ­return to Hawthorn.

“We haven’t had anything confirmed over the past couple of days as to when he might return, albeit we hope that is soon,” Clarkson said. “The point in time where Cyril and his family think it is the right time to come back, then he will come back. As I said last week, I don’t know whether that is going to be one day, one week, one month or one year, but hopefully it will be somewhere in there.”