Tom Hawkins secret comes to light after Geelong's AFL premiership
Geelong champion Tom Hawkins will undergo foot surgery ahead of the 2023 AFL season, with the Cats revealing the 34-year-old had been carrying a foot injury throughout the finals.
Hawkins was a key figure in helping the Cats storm to a convincing grand final victory over the Sydney Swans, booting eight goals across three finals played.
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The 2022 premiership was a massive one for the Cats, farewelling club champion Joel Selwood soon afterwards while it was star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield's long awaited first flag.
It was announced on Wednesday that Hawkins would miss the start of the 2023 season to recover from the foot surgery, giving the veteran forward ample time to get back to his best after carrying the injury throughout the second half of last season.
Cats football manager Simon Lloyd said Hawkins and the club had agreed pre-season surgery was 'the best approach' for the triple-premiership star.
“Our medical team and Tom have gone through an extensive process which has included consultation with specialists to determine the best approach and have come to the decision for Tom to undergo surgery this week,” Lloyd said.
“Tom is incredibly meticulous in his training and preparation, and we know he’ll have the same application to his recovery.
“We will take the time and diligence required to have him return to playing in early 2023.”
Hawkins, who has played 327 games for Geelong to date, also finished first in the club's goalkicking for the 11th straight season this year.
He inked a one-year contract extension to play on in 2023 after booting 67 goals last season.
Hawkins' pre-season training timeline would be confirmed after the initial stages of his recovery from surgery, Lloyd said.
Veteran trio re-sign for Geelong after 2022 AFL premiership
Veteran Geelong trio Hawkins, Isaac Smith and Zach Tuohy have all signed one-year contract extensions with the AFL premiers.
And fellow flag-winners Tom Atkins and Zach Guthrie have inked fresh two-year deals with the Cats.
Geelong announced the re-signing of Hawkins, 34, Smith, 33, Tuohy, 32, Atkins, 27, and Guthrie, 24, on Monday.
"We are thrilled that all five of these players have re-committed," Geelong's football manager Simon Lloyd said in a statement.
"Players like Tom Atkins and Zach Guthrie are key pillars of our medium to long-term future.
"Zach (Tuohy) and Isaac, among a long list of players at our club, are key reasons why we have been able to achieve what we have this year.
"Both are experienced big-game players ... and they drive standards across the club.
"Hawk has achieved so much in his career over such a long period of time and it's a tribute to his hard work and dedication that he continues to get better each and every year he plays the game."
Smith, who has played 48 games for the Cats since moving from Hawthorn for a 258-game career total, is a four-time premiership player and won the Norm Smith Medal for best-afield in Geelong's 81-point thrashing of Sydney in this year's grand final.
With AAP
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