WHETHER Hawthorn recruit Tom Scully makes a stunning AFL return this week will be decided on Friday, but the Hawks concede he can no longer sustain the enormous workload he once did.
Scully is renowned as one of the competition's workhorses, with his running capacity considered elite.
Whether he makes a shock comeback against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Sunday afternoon from a brutal right ankle injury suffered in round two last year remains to be seen, according to coach Alastair Clarkson.
"We'll make our determination today (Friday) whether he plays or not. He's spent the best part of the last six to eight weeks in the performance phase to get himself ready to play," Clarkson told reporters.
"We've just got to make that choice as to whether he's ready."
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Scully hasn't taken to the field since fracturing the fibula and suffering an ankle syndesmosis injury when playing for Greater Western Sydney in a tackle laid by Collingwood youngster Callum Brown.
In 2017, Scully went to the bench on just 18 occasions after half-time, and averaged 91 per cent game time, which was No.1 in the AFL.
Those mind-boggling numbers are in the past though, and the 27-year-old will need to accept that.
"He's always going to have some hiccups with that ankle because he's got an ankle joint now that has been subjected to a fair amount of trauma," Clarkson said.
"He's recovered sufficiently from that to still be able to play some good AFL footy, but his training loads and playing loads are going to have to be lower than what he's used to.
"That's a challenge for any player to have to get their head around as well."
Hawthorn eased up Scully's training last week, and will consider fielding him in the VFL.
Box Hill face Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval in a practice match on Saturday at 2pm AEDT.
"We held him back deliberately last week and deloaded him after a really good training block," Clarkson said.
"He's really fit and raring to go, but he hasn't been subjected to significant match pressure yet over a sustainable four-quarter effort. We've just got to take that into account with the way we select our side and the balance, and what happens with the Western Bulldogs side and how they select their side too."
Hawthorn gave up the meagre offering of a fourth-round selection in this year's NAB AFL Draft to land Scully, who has twice been nominated in All Australian squads.
The Hawks aren't surprised by the speed of the recovery of the player Clarkson describes as "such a pro"
"It hasn't staggered us because we did all the due diligence around his ankle at the time. We were able to get a look at all his scans and all that stuff that had accrued in the previous 12 months," Clarkson said.
"His ankle at that point in time just wasn't ready for the load, and he couldn't get back. We were always confident that if he was able to not have the lure of trying to get back too early, we could just be patient, but every player is like that.
"They just want to get back as quickly as they can and in the instance with Tom, his ankle just wasn't ready for it. With the benefit of more time and greater patience, we've been able to get some good training into him."