Luckless Hawk set for return

Luckless Hawthorn midfielder Alex Woodward is finally set to return to the field after recovering from his third knee reconstruction.

Woodward will play for Box Hill's reserves in the VFL development league against the Northern Blues on Sunday, almost 12 months after rupturing his ACL for the third time against Weribbee last July.

The talented onballer first injured his knee in a NAB Challenge match in 2012, before suffering his second ACL injury in the same knee during pre-season in 2013.

After an impressive 2014 season, which included two games at AFL level and winning the Liston Trophy for the VFL's best and fairest, he injured his knee once again midway through last season.

The 23-year-old was selected with pick No.53 in the 2011 National Draft.