Hawthorn forward Luke Breust has been pulled from the Gather Round clash with Collingwood at Adelaide Oval on Sunday due to injury.
Breust - who was carrying a groin niggle for the opening part of the season - will be given time to remedy the issue, expecting to miss up to a fortnight of football, according to AFL Media's Josh Gabelich.
Luke Breust won't face Collingwood in Adelaide due to a groin injury. Been carrying the issue across the first 3 rounds. Expected to miss 1-2 games. Another out for Hawthorn after Nick Watson & Mitch Lewis @AFLcomau
— Josh Gabelich (@JoshGabelich) April 4, 2024
The veteran will join Nick Watson and Mitch Lewis on the sidelines as the Hawks go into the weekend with an undermanned forward line.
Watson will likely miss up to four to six weeks with a syndesmosis injury he suffered during the Easter Monday game against Geelong while Lewis (hamstring) is pushing for a Round 5 selection.
Hawthorn Head docker Liam West spoke on the duo's injuries.
"Fortunately in Nick's case, he won't require surgery on his ankle," West explained.
โHe'll spend the next period in a moonboot to allow his ligaments to heal before we begin loading him up again.
"At this stage we think he'll be out 4 to 6 weeks, but will continually reassess this during his rehab period.
"Mitch won't be available this week given the six-day turnaround, but we will monitor his response to loading to determine his Round 5 availability," West said.
"Being a lower grade injury we don't expect Mitch to miss a considerable amount of game play."
The trifecta of forwards adds more names to the ever-growing injury list that has plagued the Hawks before the start of the season.
Reigning Peter Crimmins Medallist Will Day is still at least a month away while dashing defender Changkuoth Jiath could return by Round 7.
Veteran Chad Wingard is edging closer to a return to full training while Denver Grainger-Barras will attempt to return in the back half of the season.
This weekend's clash with Collingwood will be the first time former Pie forward Jack Ginnivan will come up against his old club.
Following a premiership victory in 2023, Ginnivan departed the AIA Centre in a shock twist that saw him land at his childhood side.
The goalsneak spoke about his decision to leave the Pies on the Tommy Talks podcast, saying he didn't feel valued anymore.
Ginnivan's start at Hawthorn has been positive despite Sam Mitchell's side beginning the year winless.
He has averaged 15 touches, one goal, five marks and five score involvements whilst also providing leadership in the young forward line.
