AFL 2025: Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell on Josh Weddle and Cooper Hodge
Weddle was storming away to a top finish in the Hawks' best and fairest count before going down with a stress fracture in his back.
His timeline on Hawthorn's injury list remains 'to be confirmed' and he could very well miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
But Mitchell says the improved and versatile Weddle is using the stint on the sidelines as a chance to advance his game and is confident he will return a better player as a result.
'At the four-week mark he'll get a scan and then you'll either rule him out for the season or say, 'We're a chance here, let's see what we can do',' he said.
'It's very easy to focus on who's not there … if you're going to lose Josh Weddle to bring in James Sicily, we'll take that and not worry too much about it.
'Any good learning for Wedds, he sat in the coaches' box and he's looking at vision – he'll be a better player when he comes back.
'Hopefully, it's this year, if not, when he comes back he'll have a greater game understanding than when he left.'
The Hawks have another young star in their sights, with father-son prospect Cooper Hodge training at Waverley earlier this week.
Hodge is the son of AFL great and club champion Luke Hodge, who won four premierships in the brown and gold.
The son of a gun will have to choose between his eligibility as a Hawk through the father-son ruling and Brisbane as an Academy product.
Mitchell says the son of his former premiership teammate looks a 'nice talent', but he will resist heaping pressure on the teenager.
'He's getting a game in the seniors at the moment, so he had to go back up to Brissy to make sure he holds his spot, they've got training tonight,' he said.
'He was with us for a few days, which was great. We've got Mark Williams' young lad out here today.
'It's great when we can see some of our father sons come down and have a run around with the boys.
'I think the thing with a guy like Coop is he's still a young man and because of his dad's fame and accolades there's a lot more pressure on him.
'The last thing I want to do is add anything to that. He was great, he is a really energetic kid, (but) he's quiet, respectful and goes about his business.
'He wants to learn, he's going to be a nice talent.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
38 minutes ago
- The Age
Didn't deserve a winner: The numbers that show just how bad the Dons-Tigers clash was
Loading For just over three minutes in the last quarter, scores were level. It would have been apt if it had remained that way. In many respects, this was a game that did not deserve a winner. For all the criticism the AFL has copped for not having Saturday night football on free to air TV, it's just as well Richmond and Essendon played behind a paywall. This was a match league chief Andrew Dillon would not have wanted to be exposed to the masses. Tomorrow's history buffs will look at the scoreline and wonder whether a game that produced a total of 10 goals, 23 behinds was played in teeming rain, only to be shocked it was played on close to a perfect winter's night. In between Jayden Short's goal late in the first quarter and Tim Taranto's early in the last, just one goal was scored in close to an hour of football. On the previous night across town, Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham AFC put three goals past Melbourne Victory in 35 minutes. Often, games dubbed 'the worst of the season' come about because the coaches are locked in a tactical game of chess and a battle of defensive strategies. Think 'the Shame Game' between Hawthorn and St Kilda in 2007, or last year's equivalent between St Kilda and Gold Coast. But this one couldn't be blamed on Ross Lyon, or even the coaches involved. Two injury-depleted and low-scoring sides who came into this game with five- and seven-game losing streaks played accordingly. They struggled to perform the basics of the game. Kicks went over teammates' heads, ground balls were fumbled, and chest marks grassed. Even Zach Merrett, one of the best ball-users in the competition, had trouble. Twelve of his 18 kicks were ineffective or clangers. Kamdyn McIntosh, a dual premiership winner who has played more than 200 games, managed to turn an attempted drop punt into a torpedo that landed in row K.
Herald Sun
43 minutes ago
- Herald Sun
Australia vs. West Indies third Test: Jayden Seales faces potential ban for ugly double send-off to Aussie batsmen
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales is in line to receive a fresh sanction after a couple of fiery send-offs on day one of the third Test against Australia in Jamaica. Seales was given a caution by the on-field umpires after he screamed at Steve Smith after the vice-captain edged a Shamar Joseph delivery to second-slip. West Indies vs. Australia Test & T20I Series | Watch every ball LIVE with ESPN, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. And later in the evening session, the 23-year-old was back at it again, screaming at skipper Pat Cummins after dismissing Mitchell Starc for a duck. Seales finished with figures of 3-59 from 16 overs but it may come at a cost, with the ICC likely not to look at his over the top send-offs too fondly. Seales was fined earlier this season after giving Cummins an almighty send-off on the opening day of the first Test. Jayden Seales could face sanctions for his double send-off. Image: Kayo As a result he was fined 15 per cent of his match fee. That's because send-offs are a thing of the past and are no longer within the rules. Article 2.5 of the ICC's code of conduct forbids 'using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.' On the basis of that it would be highly likely the ICC could find on Sunday morning (AEDT) he broke that law again. For his last offence he copped a demerit point as well as his fan, bringing his total to two in the last 24-month period. If he cops a demerit point for each of his send offs in the third Test, he would receive a ban. That's because if a player accrues four demerit points in a 24-month period they receive a suspension. But speaking after stumps, Seales said he didn't direct his celebrations at opposition players. 'No send-off, that was pointed directly towards Alzarri. We had a conversation before the delivery. No send-offs,' Seales said. 'I'm not planning to get any fines or push the limits with the umpires anymore, so definitely not crossing that line.' But fans feel he may find himself in trouble. 'You just can't do it,' one wrote after Seales' first send-off of the day. 'Proper send-off for Steve Smith from Jayden Seales. Was jumping up & down yelling at Smith's face and the umpires pulled Seales aside for a chat immediately. They did have an exchange in the previous over too,' Bharat Sundaresan added on X. While a third wrote: 'Jayden Seales just giving everyone send offs todaywhat did the Aussies do to him lmao.' – with Fox Sports Originally published as West Indies quick Jayden Seales faces potential ban for double send-off of Aussie batsmen
Daily Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
JHF and Harley Reid clash as tensions boil over in fiery scenes
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Two big-name No.1 picks, one tense scene on the footy field late on a Sunday night. Things got fiery between Port Adelaide's Jason Horne-Francis (Pick 1, 2021) and West Coast's Harley Reid (Pick 1, 2023) during the fourth quarter of the Power's hard-fought win at Adelaide Oval. With the Eagles trailing by two points, Reid was penalised for a throw in his own defensive 50, sparking Power players — including Horne-Francis — to remonstrate with him. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The two players exchanged words as they came face-to-face, with Reid gesturing towards — and pushing away — Horne-Francis before they were separated by teammates. 'It's sort of like they're looking in the mirror a little bit,' Fox Footy's Anthony Hudson quipped. Hawks great Dermott Brereton added: 'You've got the feeling they're going to be at each other for the next decade.' As Power veteran Travis Boak converted the set-shot goal to give Port some breathing space, Reid had more verbal spats with opponents as he came towards the bench. 'Seems to spend a lot of time talking and umpiring and into the crowd, doesn't he?' eight-time All-Austraian Mark Ricciuto said of Reid on Fox Footy. Horne-Francis played down the interaction post-game. 'I think there was a bit of heat in it at the end there, which was, I guess, I like a little bit, and I know a few of their players like (it) as well,' Horne-Francis told Fox Footy's Shaun Burgoyne. 'I think it's all part of the game, it's all in good spirit, but it was good to get over the line in the end.' Horne-Francis had just two disposals in the first quarter, but the star midfielder fired up after the first break to help turn the momentum in his side's favour. He had 10 possessions, two score assists and six inside 50s in the second quarter. With Zak Butters still lighting up Adelaide Oval, the Power brought the margin back to 11 points at half-time with a three-goals-to-one second term, with Horne-Francis kicking the first goal of the second half to help set the tone for the comeback. The two young stars had to be separated multiple times. The last-placed Eagles were rocked by the late withdrawals of Liam Ryan (personal) and Jack Graham (suspended), but Andrew McQualter's men bravely took the challenge right up to the home side, with Reid helping to lead the charge. A typically energetic Reid theatrically cupped his ear to the dismayed home fans after his superbly snapped goal in the opening term and he embraced his role as the pantomime villain in the second quarter. The 20-year-old earned jeers from the stands when he went to ground a little too easily after he was pushed following a running miss from long range. 'Harley stand up, Harley stand up … do not stage like that,' an umpired can be heard saying on the Fox Footy broadcast. Ricciuto added: 'When you stage for a free like that the umpires aren't going to give you too much next time.' Reid had a team-high 16 disposals in the first half, but didn't have quite the same influence after the main break thanks largely to the efforts of Willem Drew. — with NCA NewsWire Originally published as JHF and Harley Reid clash as tensions boil over in fiery scenes
