HAWTHORN midfielder Brad Sewell says he is hopeful, rather than confident, that spearhead Lance Franklin will escape suspension after being reported against Gold Coast.

Franklin was booked for striking Maverick Weller during the third quarter of the Hawks' 71-point win in Launceston on Saturday, and Sewell said the club had spoken to the full-forward previously about how to approach contests to avoid trouble.

It was the seventh time the superstar forward has been reported in his career, and he faces the possibility of missing big clashes with Essendon and Collingwood in the next two weeks if suspended.

"He [Franklin] has got a bit of a track record with the way he goes about it, and that's certainly something we've addressed with him in the past," Sewell said on Monday.

"It's something he's aware of, but just being the size that he is, he can get himself in trouble at times.

"We just need to ensure that he goes in low."

Sewell admitted he wasn't hugely confident of his Coleman Medal-leading teammate escaping penalty.

"I've only seen it briefly once or twice," he said.

"I'm not confident (of him being cleared), but certainly hopeful.

"I guess it comes down to the interpretation and the way they look at it."

The loss of Franklin would be yet another savage blow to the Hawks' big man stocks.

Alastair Clarkson's fourth-placed team is already missing key defenders Stephen Gilham and Ben Stratton, ruckman Brent Renouf and forward Jarryd Roughead to long-term injuries.

Added to that, defender Ryan Schoenmakers missed Saturday's Suns clash with a foot injury suffered at training.

But Sewell was confident that whoever replaced Franklin, should he be suspended, would be up to the challenge.

"[Franklin] has played a couple of pretty special games against Essendon in the past, but I think we've shown that we've certainly been able to play very well without him, and that'll be the same this week," Sewell said.

"It gives a few of our other guys an opportunity, and we've seen a couple of young guys come in and be that injection that we've needed, and they've had a real impact on games.

"That'll be the same this week."

Hawthorn plays Essendon this Friday night in a match-up that has seen several fiery encounters over the years.

Sewell, who suffered a fractured eye socket and cracked cheekbone after a head-high bump by former Bombers full-forward Matthew Lloyd in round 22, 2009, said feeling between the teams remained high.

"It's a huge rivalry," he said.

"It's been built up over a period of time through specific instances that have happened in the past, and I'm sure that'll be no different this week."

Mark Macgugan writes for hawthornfc.com.au and covers Hawthorn news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mmacgugan