Hawthorn key forward Mitch Lewis has been ruled out for the remainder of Saturday’s AFL match against Essendon after sustaining a concussion during the opening quarter. The incident occurred when Lewis collided with Essendon’s Jaxon Artemis while attempting a tackle, resulting in a head-to-head clash that left the Hawthorn player visibly dazed and bleeding from a laceration above his eye.
Medical staff immediately attended to Lewis on the field, causing a stoppage in play. Although Lewis initially stood up, he appeared unsteady and required support from team doctors before eventually walking from the field under his own power. Fox Footy commentators Jonathan Brown and Cameron Mooney noted the severity of the impact, observing that the player appeared “crook” and “very groggy” following the collision. While a motorized stretcher was initially requested, Lewis was able to leave the ground before being officially withdrawn from the contest.
The injury marks a significant setback for the club, occurring only days after Lewis signed a four-year contract extension. Under AFL concussion protocols, which mandate a recovery period for players diagnosed with head injuries, Hawthorn has confirmed that Lewis will be unavailable for the upcoming round against North Melbourne. The match also saw Essendon suffer a personnel loss, with Jordan Ridley ruled out early in the second term due to an ankle injury.