Multiple big name Hawks are entering the final phases of their injury rehabilitation as the end of pre-season nears.

Less than a month until the season opener against Collingwood, Hawthorn Director of High Performance Andrew Russell is confident with where the list is at.

Having spent the pre-Christmas period in Darwin caring for his ill father, Cyril Rioli had a delayed start to the pre-season but Russell says he is getting closer to a return to full fitness. 

“Although he won’t be available for the first week of the JLT Series, Rioli is progressing really well,” said Russell. 

GM- Football Graham Wright announced last week that defender Grant Birchall has been ruled out for round one as he continues to recover from surgery to his troublesome right knee. 

Russell says the four-time premiership Hawk, who managed just five games in 2017, was working hard through the stages of his recovery.

“Birchall is undertaking his running program, but he hasn’t started skills training yet and he won’t be available early in the season”.

Another pair who missed much of last season, James Frawley and Jonathon Ceglar, are edging closer to their return as they overcome lingering ailments on their way back to full match fitness. 

Frawley has been dealing with groin and hamstring tightness since the Hawks’ most recent intraclub game, whilst Ceglar continues his road to recovery having not played a game since Round 22, 2016.

“Frawley is not available this week but we expect him to be available for the following JLT game against Carlton,” Russell said. 

“Ceglar has been dealing with some back soreness and will not be available for selection this week either.”

The Hawks take on the Western Bulldogs this Saturday in their first JLT Series match in Ballarat, before facing Carlton the following week at the University of Tasmania Stadium to round out their pre-season campaign.