Star recruit Brian Lake will make his Hawthorn debut at last, but in terrible circumstances for the AFL club.
Fellow key defender Ryan Schoenmakers most likely suffered a season-ending knee injury on Saturday in Launceston as the Hawks beat Fremantle by 42 points.
Hawthorn set up the 18.10 (118) to 11.10 (76) win with a dominating first term where they scored five goals to two behinds.
Schoenmakers was helped off in the second term after he hyperextended his right knee in a duel for the ball on the wing.
Scans on Sunday will probably show that the fullback has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will need a reconstruction.
“Usually the docs aren’t too inaccurate on some of these calls,” coach Alastair Clarkson said.
“He’s a young defender in the game, finding his way.
“It’s disappointing for him – but there are lots and lots of blokes who have had these happen and they come back.”
Lake, who joined the Hawks from the Western Bulldogs in a high-profile trade late last year, was close to debuting for the Hawks against Fremantle.
But the news earlier this week that Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich was injured meant he was left out again.
“Lakey is an important part (of) our back mix and it’s not like he can’t get a game,” Clarkson said.
Launceston’s York Park has a pristine playing surface, but it has become dangerous for Hawthorn knees.
Matt Suckling also suffered a ACL rupture there in the pre-season and Alex Woodward had the same injury a year ago.
But the Hawks still win there more often than not – Fremantle have now lost eight of their nine visits.
Dockers coach Ross Lyon praised his team for toughing out the match after the poor start.
They reduced the margin to 17 points in the last term before Hawthorn kicked the last four goals of the match.
“(You) can’t ignore the start, really disappointing,” Lyon said.
“But after that I thought there was some really good character and some good method.”
Stephen Hill’s outstanding smother to stop a certain goal for Paul Puopolo in the second term epitomised the Dockers’ refusal to give up.
Fremantle lost key defender Luke McPharlin as a late withdrawal because of concussion, meaning Tanner Smith made his AFL debut.
The Dockers were without Pavlich, McPharlin and ruckman Aaron Sandilands – their three most important players.
Clarkson acknowledged it was often a scrappy match, but was rapt his team had managed 18 goals against Fremantle’s tight defence.
Midfielder Shaun Burgoyne and defender Grant Birchall starred as key forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead kicked four goals apiece.
Midfielder Nathan Fyfe starred for Fremantle with 11 clearances.
The game only attracted 12,619 fans – the lowest for a Hawthorn home game and the second-lowest AFL crowd at Aurora Stadium.