Hawthorn captain James Sicily underwent what coach Sam Mitchell described as a “minor procedure” to address a persistent hip issue that affected his performance earlier in the season and led to ongoing questions about his form.
Mitchell said the procedure had effectively resolved the issue for Sicily, who may return to the field against North Melbourne on Sunday, potentially boosting the team’s push for a top-four spot.
Sicily participated in training on Thursday, but Mitchell remained non-committal about his availability for what would be his first match since stepping away after the Round 13 defeat to Collingwood.
“James has been managing a troublesome hip issue… we’ve now got a clearer understanding of it. The minor procedure has fixed much of the problem,” Mitchell explained.
“Will he play this week? That depends on how training goes, but the procedure has definitely helped.”
Mitchell also expressed enthusiasm over the impending return of key forward Mitch Lewis, who is recovering from an ACL injury. Lewis, who had been growing his hair until he was match-ready, now sports a shorter cut as he prepares for a comeback via the VFL this weekend.
“Sometimes players coming back from knee injuries can seem hesitant — and he has at times — but over the past five or six weeks, he’s looked ready. He’s eager to get back out there,” Mitchell said.
“Mitch is a terrific AFL player and an important part of our future. While we haven’t depended on him this season, we’re certainly hoping he makes a strong impact in the second half of the year.”
Mitchell added that Lewis, who has only played four senior games in the past two years, could feature in a forward line alongside Mabior Chol and Calsher Dear, who is returning from a back injury. Both Lewis and Dear will play in the VFL this weekend with the goal of eventually rejoining the AFL lineup.
Referring to other teams’ forward structures, Mitchell noted: “A lot of people have watched Adelaide’s tall trio up front this season — they’re playing with real fluidity. It doesn’t look awkward at all, and their ball movement is really clean.”
“As for our own team selections, those decisions tend to evolve, since availability is always a moving target.”
