All the injury and selection news ahead of the AFL semi-finals

Calsher Dear has been ruled out of Friday night’s semi-final date with Adelaide after the Hawks youngster’s hamstring didn’t come up in time. See who’s in line to replace him.

Josh Barnes

@Josh__Barnes

less than 2 min read

September 8, 2025 - 8:13PM

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Hawthorn forward Mitch Lewis is first in line to replace Calsher Dear for Friday’s semi-final against Adelaide after Dear was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Scans on Dear’s hamstring on Monday revealed a low to moderate level strain, sidelining him for at least this week.

Hawks high performance boss Peter Burge said Dear “noticed tightening” in his hamstring, leading to scans.

“He will miss the game this weekend and we will need to reassess again for next week,” Burge said.

Calsher Dear celebrates a goal against GWS. Picture: Phil Hillyard.

“He is certainly not ruled out for the season depending on how deep we can continue to go but he wont be playing this week.”

Lewis did everything right to earn a recall after being dropped ahead of the elimination final win over GWS, booting four goals in a thrilling VFL final win for Box Hill.

Winger Harry Morrison will not be in the running to replace Dear after he re-injured his quad at training last week, when he was pushing to return to full fitness.

Morrison has been shelved for the season.

Ball magnet Henry Hustwaite hoovered up 37 disposals in the VFL and Cam Mackenzie had 31 touches in the VFL win as other options for Sam Mitchell.

Lewis played six games on the trot for Mitchell’s side upon his return from a knee injury in round 19, kicking five goals in six matches.

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Mitch Lewis could come straight back in for the Hawks. Picture: Michael Klein

The Hawks largely played with four tall forwards during that period – with Dear and Lewis playing alongside Mabior Chol and Jack Gunston – but the Hawks abandoned that plan to face the Giants.

Sam Butler came into the team for the cutthroat win given his ability to pressure the GWS running backs, something Mitchell noted in his post-match press conference was key to the narrow win.

Butler also kicked a vital fourth-quarter goal.

Springy young forward Dear has kicked 10 goals in nine games but has not had more than 10 disposals in a match in his last five outings.

Midfield star Will Day will not play for the rest of this season but showed some positive signs on his return from a foot injury when he was spotted trotting up and down stairs in front of a media pack at Waverley on Monday.