Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has indicated Conor Nash has taken a positive step forward in his recovery from a neck nerve injury.
The big-bodied midfielder has been unsighted since Round 11 as the club takes a cautious approach, but the Hawks are now confident there is "light at the end of the tunnel".
"He went to see a specialist in Sydney, and that has improved," Mitchell said on Thursday.
"He's very strong normally, and he got to some threshold in the gym where he could bench press what most of us would consider not bad.
"For him, he's still down on what he's capable of and once he's crossed that threshold, he's getting to a point where we can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
"He certainly won't play this one or the next one, he's not that close but there is light at the end of the tunnel now to say that we'll see him sooner rather than later.
"Whereas two weeks ago it was like 'we actually don't know' I think now where likely to see him...I don't want to give you a date but I think it will be sooner rather than later."
Mitchell has also locked in Will Day and Jack Ginnivan for the clash with Essendon this weekend.
Day was managed after playing six straight AFL games since his return from injury, while Ginnivan did not take part in the second half as Hawthorn already had the game under control.
Hawthorn Hawks and GWS Giants at University of Tasmania Stadium, on March 29, 2025, in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
The coach said the club will look to manage players before the end of the season if the situation allows.
"There's a couple of players who, if we can get game time out of them, we will and if we can't, then we will rest," Mitchell said.
"It depends what happens on the field, if a game is already won or lost, then expect to see a couple of players spending time on the bench."
