Hawthorn jet Chad Wingard has been ruled out of this Sunday's clash with the GWS Giants after suffering a hamstring injury at training.
Wingard was in the frame to return to Sam Mitchell's side as late as Thursday morning before the club confirmed just hours out from team selection that the midfield-forward hybrid will remain sidelined through injury.
A calf injury has kept Wingard sidelined since Round 13, with his latest niggle now sweet to extend his stay in the club's casualty ward.
The 28-year-old will face multiple weeks on the sidelines with his latest ailment, placing further headaches on the Hawks' hopes of adding a fifth win to their season tally.
INJURY UPDATE: Chad Wingard has been ruled out of this week's game with hamstring tightness.
He's expected to miss at least a few weeks, with a timeline for his return to be determined in the coming days.
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) June 30, 2022
Mitchell is expected to welcome the returns of gun pair Jack Gunston (ankle) and Will Day (HS Protocols) for Sunday's bout against GWS at GIANTS Stadium.
The Hawks aren't the only side set to lose an incumbent star for the coming weeks, withย AFL.com.auย revealing All-Australian defender Caleb Daniel is set for a stint on the sidelines.
Daniel was a surprise omission from the Bulldogs' side to face the Lions for Round 16, with the club revealing a knee injury has hampered his campaign.
The helmeted backman could miss close to a month after requiring arthroscopic surgery on his knee after a build up of cartilage damage from across the season.
The setback comes ahead of a critical few weeks on the horizon for the Bulldogs' push to September, who face the Swans, Saints, Dees, Cats and Dockers in the games succeeding their bout with Brisbane on Thursday night.
The Western Bulldogs named veteran midfielder Lachie Hunter and debutant Dominic Bendendo as their two inclusions for the game at the Gabba, with Daniel, Ed Richards (concussion) and Lachlan McNeil (medical sub) omitted from last week's side.
