Geelong veteran forward Tom Hawkins has shut down suggestions that his foot injury could spell retirement for the 35-year-old, despite still using crutches on Monday.
Hawkins was leading for a ball in Geelong’s 63-point loss to Carlton on Friday night, before going down with a foot injury, which looked to have possibly caught the turf or rolled underneath him.
He immediately limped to the bench and took no further part in the loss.
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The triple premiership hero was sent for scans over the weekend, returning to the club on Monday, but obviously took no part in main training.
However, he moved to quickly alleviate concerns about his playing future.
“I can respect that there is interest with age and current form, but that’s far from my mind at the moment,” Hawkins said on Monday.
“It was just a movement that I do everyday training and playing.”
Cats coach Chris Scott was also quick to shut down suggestions that could have been Hawkins’ final game in the blue and white hoops after the loss.
“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 post match.
The Cats sit with an 8-6 record after 15 rounds and will likely face off against Essendon without Hawkins up forward.
They’ll have a chance to get their skipper, Patrick Dangerfield back, as the club prepares to challenge his one-match ban handed down for a dangerous tackle on Carlton’s Sam Walsh.
Dangerfield’s tackle has been graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, with the tribunal being held on Tuesday night.