HAWTHORN remains in the dark about Jack Fitzpatrick's expected return to football from concussion, with the big man still suffering lingering effects more than five weeks after copping a knee to the head.

Fitzpatrick wore some friendly fire during Box Hill's loss to Werribee on May 15, when teammate Kurt Heatherley leapt into a marking contest and accidentally collected him in the back of the head.

The former Demon, who has a long history of concussion, still isn't feeling "normal" and only ran laps at Waverley prior to Hawthorn's final training session last Thursday.

"He's still battling away with that. It's a bit of a worry for him and for us from a knock he got," general manager of football operations Chris Fagan said.

"He's still not feeling normal and with all the protocols around concussions now, Jack won't be playing footy until he feels normal again and I'm not sure when that will be."

The Hawks pulled a NAB AFL Trade Period stunner when they swooped on Fitzpatrick, who had been delisted by Melbourne after 22 games in five years, as insurance following triple-premiership ruckman David Hale's retirement.

The 25-year-old had a pre-season setback when he hurt his knee in the NAB Challenge and was only playing his fourth VFL match for Box Hill when he sustained his latest concussion.

With better luck, the 200cm beanpole might've made his Hawthorn debut in the first half of the season, with key forwards Jarryd Roughead and Ryan Schoenmakers both sidelined, and ruckman Jonathon Ceglar missing two matches.

Injury-plagued swingman Matt Spangher has only played one senior game this season and seriously damaged his hamstring tendon in the opening minutes against the Brisbane Lions in round 10.

The 29-year-old premiership defender's season is now in doubt, with Spangher facing another two months on the sidelines.

"I'm a little bit frustrated, but this happens, so I don't mind. It was nice to get out there, if only for five minutes," he told the club's website.

"I've gotten over that disappointment now and now you've just got to tick the boxes and do the rehab.

"I did a good job of it, so the club gave me some time off.

"The timeframe is a bit of an unknown, but it's certainly going to be longer than a standard four-week hammy."

In better news, skipper Luke Hodge is a 50/50 chance to face Gold Coast this Sunday, while Alex Woodward is on the verge of a comeback from his third knee reconstruction.