Brad Sewell and Ben Stratton ruled out of Hawks' round one clash
HAWTHORN has drawn a line through Brad Sewell and Ben Stratton for their round one match with the Brisbane Lions on March 22.
The pair had been speculated to miss round one after pulling up gingerly from their pre-season hit-out with Melbourne on Saturday afternoon.
It's deja vu for Sewell, who missed three weeks in early 2013 with a hamstring strain.
Hawthorn football operations boss Chris Fagan said the 190-game veteran has three weeks to prove his fitness for the round-two match with Essendon.
"We expect at this point in time he won't be available for round one. We'll see how it goes from that point on," he said.
For Stratton, who had not missed an AFL game since the 2011 finals, making him the only Hawthorn defender to play every game in their premiership season last year, the wait could be longer.
"It's low grade but we might not see (Stratton) reappear until probably round two or round three," Fagan said.
Saturday's match was little more than a doddle for the Hawks, who ran out near 20-goal winners to cap a strong pre-season.
Hawthorn will unveil its premiership flag at its roundone match against the Lions in Launceston.
Gemma Bastiani delves into stars of the 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft
10:57
The most spectacular marks of 2024
Relive the best marks of the 2024 Toyota AFL Premiership season
01:21
Why McDonald could become AFLW's best key forward
Gemma Bastiani delves into stars of the 2024 Telstra AFLW Draft
00:15
Opening Round QLD | March 6-9
Be part of AFL Opening Round to kick-off the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season in QLD. March 6-9. Brisbane Lions host Geelong at the GABBA and Gold Coast SUNS take on Essendon at People First Stadium.