Hawks hopeful Hodge all good
Hawthorn are hopeful star utility Luke Hodge has escaped major injury and will play in Saturday's AFL grand final against Geelong at the MCG.
Hodge was hurt twice from heavy blows to his side in marking contests in Saturday night's preliminary final against St Kilda and coughed up blood just before quarter-time.
However he played the match out to steer the Hawks into their first grand final since 1991 against the reigning premier.
Hodge's fitness will be the Hawks' major concern this week but half-forward Michael Osborne said the vice-captain was fine after the match.
"Everyone was pretty good after the game," Osborne said Sunday.
"We didn't have anyone noticeably sore, so that was a pretty good result coming into this week's game."
Osborne said Hodge's return to the field last night had given his teammates a lift.
"It was good for him to come back on, he goes hard at every contest and it was great inspiration for the team," he said.
"He played so well among the guys in the backline ... to come back on, he got winded in that (first marking) contest.
"It was great to have him back out there and pretty courageous."
Hawthorn's other injury concern will be a hand injury suffered by star forward Lance Franklin.
He was hurt early in the game, but played the match out, and Sunday wore strapping on his left hand and thumb.
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