HAWTHORN defender Trent Croad is confident he will be fit to play in this week’s grand final against Geelong.
While news on Luke Hodge’s ribs has hogged the headlines after Saturday night's preliminary final win over St Kilda, Croad has been soldiering on despite nursing a sore foot.
But the 28-year-old says he is a certainty to take his place in Hawthorn’s first grand final since 1991.
“I pulled up a little sore after the game, but I’m doing all the right things. It’s still early, it’s still Monday, and I’m about to get in that freezing cold water out there and hopefully get it right,” Croad said at Monday's recovery session at Middle Brighton Sea Baths.
“Towards the end of the week, you get a really good gauge on any injury you’ve got. I’m well on top of it. I can play through a game like I did on the weekend. It’s really of no concern at the moment. In finals football, the niggles seem to go away.”
Croad said he would have a light week on the track in preparation for the biggest match of his career.
“From a physical point of view, you are not going to get any fitter in a week. The older guys get the bodies nice and fresh, and you go into a grand final. It’s all new for us,” he said.
“We’ll be doing all those little things like walking in the ocean, massage and all the things that make you feel good, and hopefully it can come out on the field.”
Croad said he had full faith fellow defender Hodge would join him on the field despite injuring his ribs on Saturday night.
“Luke will definitely play. That’s just a normal day in the life of Luke. He’s a good tough Colac boy, and he tells me Colac boys don’t feel pain,” Croad said.
“Nothing much fazes him; it’s the way he plays his football and the way he contributes to the team.”
Croad said the team did not have to worry about protecting Hodge from any physical battering he may receive from Geelong.
“'Hodgey' can hold his own. There will be no problem at all. It’s the way he plays his footy; we’ve seen him do it many times throughout the year. It’s a common week for 'Hodgey' to be bashing and crashing through packs ... that’s the way he approaches his football."
