Hawks star Josh Weddle faces possible season-ending back injury

Hawthorn’s standout player Josh Weddle may be sidelined for the rest of the season, as the club has confirmed he is experiencing bone stress in his back.

The dynamic defender has emerged as one of the Hawks’ rising stars over the past two seasons, earning comparisons to Sydney’s Nick Blakey.

The club disclosed that Weddle began feeling discomfort following their win against North Melbourne in round 16.

Subsequent scans confirmed the back problem, although the club remains optimistic that they have detected it early enough for him to make a comeback this season.

As Hawthorn aims for a deep finals run, they will have to contend with a challenging series of matches ahead.

“We need to take some time to manage Josh’s workload during this initial stage before determining how long he will be out,” said Hawthorn club doctor Liam West.

“Considering how early we identified the injury, we’re hopeful he can return to the field before the season wraps up.

“While this is certainly disappointing for Josh, our immediate focus is on taking a cautious and careful approach to ensure his safe and swift return.

“We will provide updates on Josh’s injury status as soon as they become available.”

Since being drafted in 2022, Weddle has quickly made his mark with 57 AFL appearances, with this injury representing his first significant stint away from the game.