Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is hopeful a week's rest will help premiership forward Jack Gunston to rediscover his best form after "a bugger of a year".
Gunston has been ruled out for Saturday's clash with Fremantle in Launceston, having struggled to train during the week after picking up a minor leg injury.
The All-Australian has battled for form this season, booting 19 goals from 15 games and just three from his past five.
Hawks forward Jack Gunston has struggled with form and injury this season. Credit:AAP
Clarkson says Gunston's latest issue is "completely unrelated" to the iliotibial band injury he sustained during the pre-season.
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But Gunston, one of the Hawks' most consistent performers in the previous six seasons, has struggled this year with frequent niggles.
"He's had a bugger of a year in terms of just little niggles here and there," Clarksonsaid on Friday.
"It's stopped him from being able to produce anywhere near his best form.
"We're hoping that just by giving him a rest this week we'll nip it in the bud and he'll be able to attack the last six weeks with a bit of a gusto."
With Gunston's latest setback a worry for the Hawks, confirmation that Grant Birchall will play his first AFL game in more than two years is a major positive.
One of two four-time premiership players still on the Hawks' list – along with former skipper Jarryd Roughead, who remains confined to the VFL – Birchall has been out of action because of a serious knee injury and then soft-tissue problems.
"If there's anything to sort of get the boys up it's the fact they're playing with Birch again," Clarkson said.
"It's very unusual for a player to play 10 or 15 years of footy without one of those years being severely interrupted but when it's two years in a row, that's a pretty harsh price to pay for throwing your body into Read More – Source
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is hopeful a week's rest will help premiership forward Jack Gunston to rediscover his best form after "a bugger of a year".
Gunston has been ruled out for Saturday's clash with Fremantle in Launceston, having struggled to train during the week after picking up a minor leg injury.
The All-Australian has battled for form this season, booting 19 goals from 15 games and just three from his past five.
Hawks forward Jack Gunston has struggled with form and injury this season. Credit:AAP
Clarkson says Gunston's latest issue is "completely unrelated" to the iliotibial band injury he sustained during the pre-season.
Advertisement
But Gunston, one of the Hawks' most consistent performers in the previous six seasons, has struggled this year with frequent niggles.
"He's had a bugger of a year in terms of just little niggles here and there," Clarksonsaid on Friday.
"It's stopped him from being able to produce anywhere near his best form.
"We're hoping that just by giving him a rest this week we'll nip it in the bud and he'll be able to attack the last six weeks with a bit of a gusto."
With Gunston's latest setback a worry for the Hawks, confirmation that Grant Birchall will play his first AFL game in more than two years is a major positive.
One of two four-time premiership players still on the Hawks' list – along with former skipper Jarryd Roughead, who remains confined to the VFL – Birchall has been out of action because of a serious knee injury and then soft-tissue problems.
"If there's anything to sort of get the boys up it's the fact they're playing with Birch again," Clarkson said.
"It's very unusual for a player to play 10 or 15 years of footy without one of those years being severely interrupted but when it's two years in a row, that's a pretty harsh price to pay for throwing your body into Read More – Source
