THERE are injuries that slip under the radar, injuries that hurt but can be covered, and there are injuries that stretch teams so far they end up shaping the ladder.

After three losses in five games, Hawthorn's injury list clearly fits into the last category and is a significant factor in the premier coming back to the pack and falling two games behind ladder leader Port Adelaide.

Click here to see the full AFL injury list

In an injury ladder compiled by AFL.com.au, it is clear the Hawks have been among the hardest hit teams this season, with only the Brisbane Lions missing more experience from their team on a weekly basis.

With premiership stars Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Brian Lake and Brad Sewell sidelined, there has been an average of 620 games' experience missing for the Hawks each round in 2014.

The Lions top the injury ladder with an average of 703 games' experience missing each week, explaining some of the brutal losses coach Justin Leppitsch has endured in his first season.

Important players Daniel Rich, Matthew Leuenberger, Pearce Hanley and Tom Rockliff have all missed games at stages, with the total of 67 games missed for the team ranked No.3 across the League.

Highlighting the fact some injuries can be covered without a glitch, Geelong has had more players sidelined than any team this season, with 19 Cats missing a total of 92 games.

Losing Andrew Mackie, Steven Motlop, Allen Christensen no doubt hurts, but the majority of Geelong's injuries have been suffered by young players, with an average of 290 games' experience missing each week (ranked No.15).




Star Lion Daniel Rich suffered a season-ending knee injury in round three. Picture: AFL Media

Port Adelaide's injury list has been comparable across the first 10 rounds, with 19 players also sidelined at some stage.

The Power players have mostly suffered minor injuries, however, and it has been the less experienced end of the list most effected, with just 208 games' experience missing each week.

Just as injuries are not going to result in a team as strong as Hawthorn falling into the bottom half of the ladder, a healthy list alone is not going to be enough for the Western Bulldogs (ranked No.18 on the injury ladder) to climb into the top eight.   

It is clear, however, that injuries are playing a significant role as the season moves beyond the bye rounds, with underperforming clubs Richmond and Adelaide also able to point to a mass of sidelined experience.   

The question now is, how will the injury ladder look after 23 rounds, and how will that impact this year's finals series?

CLUB
 
PLAYERS INJURED
 
TOTAL GAMES MISSEDTOTAL GAMES EXPERIENCE OF INJURED PLAYERSAVERAGE GAMES EXPERIENCE
MISSING PER GAME

 
Brisbane Lions
 

15

67 1498
703
Hawthorn
 

12
 
 57 1366
620
Carlton
 

14
 
 45 1291
616
Richmond
 

15
 
 461544

552
Adelaide
 

12
 
 54 959
486
Sydney Swans
 

12
 
41
1426

454
St Kilda
 

18
 
 541053
436
Collingwood
 

16
 
 721110
393
Essendon
 

16
 
 641523
392
North Melbourne
 

10
 
 48715

351
West Coast
 

11
 
 341014

320
Fremantle
17
 
 581047

296
Geelong
 

19
 
 92 750
290
Greater Western
Sydney


12
 
38
 772
250
Port Adelaide
 

19
 
 55 799
208
Melbourne
 

15
 
 40883

199
Gold Coast
 

11

 50358

196
Western Bulldogs
 

12
 
 39 659
156
Twitter: @AFL_Nathan