VERSATILE big man David Hale hopes his and the Hawks’ injury concerns will be confined to the first part of the season.
The 31-year old has bounced back from an injury-interrupted start to the season, playing in the Hawks’ last four games before the bye.
An adductor issue hampered Hale’s pre-season, but he made a comeback in Round 1 of the VFL with the Box Hill Hawks, before being sidelined for another month.
“I missed a fair chunk of pre-season after Christmas and the first six or seven games,” the ruckman-forward said.
“But the last few weeks I came back in, so I’m trying to get some match fitness and touch, and hopefully in the second half of the year I can build on that.”
Hale has not been the only tall Hawk on the injury list in the early stages of 2015, with fellow ruckman Ben McEvoy and key defenders Brian Lake, Matt Spangher and James Frawley all spending time on the sidelines, alongside a number of 2013 and 2014 premiership players.
With McEvoy and Spangher returning through the VFL prior to the bye, Hale is hoping the Hawks will find more consistency after the break, with a diminished injury list and more competition for senior berths.
“We’ve had a few – I think the injury list is starting to clear up,” he said.
“Hopefully we can get a bit of momentum in the second half of the year.
“Obviously we’ve got blokes that are playing well in the twos and putting pressure on the guys in the ones (which) is the main thing.”
Hale highlighted fellow veterans Sam Mitchell and Josh Gibson as standouts in the first part of the year, alongside key forwards Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston.
But he said a mix of contributors had been important to date and would be pivotal as the Hawks chase a third consecutive premiership.
“We’ve got a pretty even spread now with guys who can do the role and get the job done, so hopefully those boys can hold their form and do it in the second half of the year,” Hale said.
“Hopefully the boys can string a few together and get a few wins going into the end of the year and finals.”
Hale will use the bye as an opportunity to relax with his family and mentally unwind from football, before the Hawks start a tough streak of games, starting with the Adelaide Crows on their home turf Thursday week.
With games also to follow against Essendon, Collingwood, Fremantle and the Sydney Swans, the next five weeks could determine the club’s chances of a top-four finish.
But the experienced Hale said it was a matter of the reigning premiers focusing one week at a time, as they look to build on a 6-4 win-loss record in the second half of the year.
“Obviously everyone coming up against us is ready to go and wanting to knock us off, so every game is pretty tough these days,” he said.
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