AFL: Dashing Hawks defender Changkuoth Jiath to miss Anzac Day clash with hamstring injury

Hawthorn’s hopes of upsetting Sydney on Anzac Day have suffered a significant blow, with dashing defender Changkuoth Jiath ruled out with a hamstring setback.

Jiath sustained the injury at training on Friday and will miss the Swans clash at minimum, after Mitch Lewis (hamstring) and Ned Reeves (shoulder) already went down in last week’s win over Geelong.

The Hawks sent him for scans but are still unsure of the severity after he missed multiple matches with a hamstring setback two years ago.

The exciting 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, playing 16 games before a posterior cruciate ligament injury prematurely ended his football year.

Jiath’s risen from a raw category B rookie to one of the club’s most important footballers.

He has picked up this season where he left off, improving his career-best numbers almost across the board, including averaging 21 disposals, eight intercept possessions and four rebound 50s.

Jiath’s line-breaking run and vastly improved kicking skills give Sam Mitchell’s team a major weapon down back as Hawthorn continues to surprise with its progress.

The shock defeat of the Cats improved the Hawks’ season record to three wins in five games ahead of the clash with John Longmire’s 4-1 Swans in Launceston on Monday.

Tom Phillips is also out of the Hawks’ selected squad, with Finn Maginness and Josh Morris added to the mix.

Chad Wingard, Will Day, Max Lynch and potential debutants Jackson Callow and Ned Long are the other possible inclusions when they finalise their side on Saturday.

Day, who will return from a week out with concussion, looms as Jiath’s defensive replacement.