Veteran Geelong forward Tom Hawkins will sit out the next six to eight weeks of football with a left foot injury, the club revealed on Tuesday.
Hawkins left the field during the third quarter of last Friday night’s 63-point loss to Carlton at the MCG, with scans showing “an atypical mid foot joint and ligament injury”.
The 35-year-old was leading for a ball before his foot looked to catch the turf or roll underneath him.
He immediately limped to the bench and took no further part in the match.
Following consultation with specialists and Geelong medical team, football boss Andrew Mackie said Hawkins would endeavor to return in the later stages of the regular season.
“Tom has already been in the club today and commenced his off-foot training, he’ll remain in a boot for the next couple of weeks before progressing based on clinical signs,” he said in a club statement.
“Tom is in a positive and optimistic mindset and we are confident he will give himself the best chance to have an impact later in the season.”
Speaking outside Kardinia Park on Monday, Hawkins shut down suggestions that his foot injury could spell the end of his career.
“I can respect that there is interest with age and current form, but that’s far from my mind at the moment,” he said.
“It was just a movement that I do everyday training and playing.”
Speaking post-match, Cats coach Chris Scott was quick to shut down speculation about Hawkins’ playing future.
“They are not saying (he’s done for the year) and I certainly don’t want to say anything that alleviates the concern, because we are concerned, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions either,” Scott said on Friday.
The Cats sit with an 8-6 record after 15 rounds. The side will now face Essendon on Saturday night without Hawkins up forward.
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