Hawthorn will be without midfield-forward hybrid Chad Wingard for the remainder of the season due to injury.
Wingard has not played for the Hawks since Round 13 due to a hamstring issue, having experience setbacks in his recovery since the initial injury.
With the 28-year-old likely to miss at least the next month and make a return for Hawthorn's final match of the year, the club have instead decided to put the former Port Adelaide stat on ice for the rest of the year.
"He was still not progressing well enough, so at best it was going to be the last game of the year. We've decided to rule him out for the rest of the season," Hawthorn senior coach Sam Mitchell said on Thursday.
"He is a bit frustrated, but it's just not coming along quickly. The upside to getting back isn't worth the risk. We want him to have a really strong pre-season and get on top of the lack of continuity he has had."
The decision concludes Wingard's 11th season in the league and fourth with the Hawks, managing 10 games in an injury-riddled year.
Wingard's setback will see him join James Worpel (shoulder) and Sam Frost (knee) in missing the remainder of this season.
Meanwhile, forward Jack Gunston will miss another week of action following the recent passing of his father, Ray.
Gunston has since returned to the club, but would face a challenge in preparing for Sunday's clash with the Eagles given a memorial for his dad - a former AFL executive - is scheduled for Friday.
"Jack hasn't been able to train with us. We've had open conversations with him and he's had a tough week planning a whole range of things. Really pleasingly, he has spent a lot of time with his family," Mitchell revealed.
"We had him in the club yesterday and he spoke to the boys and told some stories about Ray, which was really nice. It was good to have him in and put our arms around him for a little bit.
"He came in this morning and did some things, but he hasn't trained with us and won't play. We expect him to be available next week. But by the same token, it's going to be up to him when he feels comfortable and ready to play."
The Hawks will welcome the return of defender Will Day this weekend, with the young backman having been suspended for one match.
Hawthorn will host West Coast at the MCG on Sunday at 1:10pm (AEST).
