HAWTHORN has pencilled in Tom Mitchell for round one, with the gun midfielder moving well through the final stages of his recovery from a broken leg.

The 2018 Brownlow Medal winner missed all of last season after he broke the tibia and fibula in his left leg during a training session in January.

The 26-year-old hasn't been cleared for full contact just yet, but he took part in all of the drills at Friday's training run before leaving the track about 20 minutes before the end of the session.

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Copy link Link copied to clipboard New Hawk ready to fire, when will Tom return from a broken leg? Cal Twomey and Marc McGowan with the latest on Tom Mitchell and Jonathon Patton from Hawthorn's pre-season training

"He's certainly looking pretty sharp," assistant coach Sam Mitchell said on Friday.



"The plan at this point is that he'll be ready to play some time in the pre-season games and be ready for round one.

"He's on track.

"He's had a pretty slow progression over a bit over 12 months now.

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"He's in good spirits. He's started to do some match play stuff, but he still dons the blue (non-contact) hat to make sure that no one cannons into him too much.

"He's started to be the normal Tommy that we're used to."

Tom Mitchell hasn't played a game since saluting at the 2018 Brownlow count. Picture: AFL Photos

Mitchell's early departure from the session is part of the club medical staff's tailored program to slowly build him up to full workloads ahead of round one.

Jonathon Patton, the No.1 pick at the 2011 draft, also ramped up his bid to earn a spot in the round one side that will take on Brisbane at the MCG on Sunday, March 22.

The former GWS forward hasn't played since round 15 of the 2018 season after undergoing a third knee reconstruction, but looms as a potential replacement for retired premiership star Jarryd Roughead.

Jonathon Patton at Hawthorn training. Picture: AFL Photos

"He's trained really strongly, his last couple of weeks have been really good, we've started to really see some good things," Mitchell said of Patton.

"He kicked a couple of goals in an intra-club match a couple of days ago.

"He'll certainly spend some time on the field in the (pre-season) series."

Jarman Impey, who ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in round 18 last year, ran laps on Friday and is slated for a late-season return after he completes a 12-month rehabilitation.