Overview

• Hawthorn has confirmed Sicily will miss at least two upcoming matches and the mid-season bye after suffering a flare-up of a lingering hip/abdominal issue.
• The skipper will sit out clashes with the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide before the Hawks hope to welcome him back against North Melbourne in round 16.
• Medical scans revealed the problem, which had been under management for weeks, worsened following Friday night’s loss to Collingwood.
• Coach Sam Mitchell conceded his previous remarks downplaying the injury “didn’t age well” after insisting Sicily’s groin was not a concern.
• Hawthorn intends to cover Sicily’s role with key defenders from Box Hill, including Sam Frost, Jai Serong and James Blanck, over the coming weeks.