Hawthorn All-Australian defender Josh Battle is a late out for for his team’s clash with Melbourne on Saturday.
7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed yesterday that Battle was in hospital overnight, having a series of tests done after experiencing abdominal pain.
Battle was named in the team to play the Demons in Tasmania on Thursday, but now Cleary has revealed that the 27-year-old has had his appendix removed and will not feature.
“He will be unlikely next week for the Carlton game too,” Cleary said.
Hawthorn’s best backline is now without Battle, Josh Weddle (suspension), Karl Amon (knee) and Jarman Impey (hamstring) for the clash with the Dees.
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“And throw in Jack Scrimshaw (knee) who is also injured,” Cleary said.
Electric forward Nick Watson is also out with a hamstring issue but, in some good news, veteran Jack Gunston has returned.
More to come …
