Breaking News: Agony for Hawthorn Star as he Announces 'a couple of months away' from injury.

The start of the 2025 season has been a happy month for Hawthorn as the Hawks started the season 4-0 before their surprise loss in Gather Round to Port Adelaide. Hawthorn wingman Massimo D'ambrosio spoke to Swerve Media’s Adem Savran:

“Disappointing loss, but I’m sure we’ll bounce back. We’ve got a heap of footage to look at and look forward to next week.”

Hawthorn produced a variety of defensive lapses in the first half. With the introduction of Tom Barrass and Josh Battle, along with captain James Sicily, the AFL world was surprised by the defensive efforts of the Hawthorn backline. Josh Battle also spoke to Adem Savran, who questioned Hawthorn’s defensive lapses.Battle responded: “It was all over the round. We weren’t at our best. We’ll review it and get back to looking forward to playing the Cats.”

The premiership favourites had a surprise loss to Port Adelaide last week, getting blown away in the first half. To rub salt into the wounds, the Hawks have lost star midfielder Will Day to injury, with Day getting a stress fracture in his foot. Swerve Media’s reporter, Adem Savran, briefly spoke to Will Day. Day responded: “Frustrated to be injured again, though still a couple of months away.”

Will Day’s impact on the Hawks at the beginning of this season and towards the end of last season was huge for Hawthorn, with Day being one of the best midfielders in the competition and looking towards a maiden All-Australian selection for 2025. His absence will be notable for the Hawks, as Day has solidified himself as a true leader on and off the field. Over the first 4 rounds, Will Day averaged 23 disposals, 13 contested possessions, and 4.2 clearances per game, with one standout performance against the Swans in the opening round, which earned him the perfect 10 coaches' votes.

So, who replaces Will Day? The Hawks will now need to find a makeshift replacement for the next few months, and that could be young midfielder Henry Hustwaite, who has been playing very well for Box Hill in the VFL.

Hustwaite has been putting up phenomenal numbers, averaging 34 disposals per game across the first two matches. He can’t seem to break into the talented ‘Hollywood Hawks’ side. Hustwaite’s VFL performances haven’t gone unnoticed, though. Only playing two games this season, a notable performance against North Melbourne’s VFL side saw Hustwaite amass 38 disposals (25 contested), 12 clearances, 6 tackles, and 9 inside 50s. It seems disrespectful to keep a young player, who is in form, out of the side when out-of-form Hawk Jack Ginnivan has kept his spot in the senior side.

Jack Ginnivan has contributed next to nothing to the Hawks' success in 2025. The controversial 22-year-old small forward has only contributed two goals and an average of 13.2 disposals a game this season. His pressure acts and football IQ may be the only things keeping him in the senior side at the moment, but that may not be enough. Ginnivan was seen training with the Box Hill side rather than the senior side this week, which could mean he may lose his spot for the big Easter Monday clash against Geelong, who are coming off a big win against the Crows last Thursday night. If Ginnivan loses his spot, it’s going to be tough for him to get back into the team with the Hawks playing West Coast, Richmond, and Melbourne in the next 4 weeks, which may give confidence and good form to the young fringe players.

Hawthorn’s 40-point loss may not be the end of the world for Sam Mitchell’s men, but it could be a wake-up call for some of the players who are taking it a bit too easy.