Geelong Cats forward Tom Hawkins concedes round 1 game is an outside chance after off-season surgery

After off-season surgery on his foot, Geelong’s Tom Hawkins has conceded he is unsure if he will be fit in time to take on Collingwood in the season opener.

WARRNAMBOOL, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 06: Tom Hawkins of the Cats speaks with a fan who had his head tattooed to commemorate the 2022 Cats premiership win during the Geelong Cats AFL Community Camp at Reid Oval on February 06, 2023 in Warrnambool, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

VETERAN Cat spearhead Tom Hawkins has conceded he is racing against the clock to be fit for round 1 after an interrupted pre-season.

The 2020 Coleman Medalist, who has not missed a game since round 14, 2018, had off-season foot surgery and has been limited in his work ahead of a round 1 clash against Collingwood at the MCG.

Hawkins said he was making strides towards being fully fit, and he hoped to run out with his teammates on March 15.

“I think in my mind I’m aiming to play round 1, whether or not that happens I’m not sure,” he said.

“We at the football club want to make sure that we are doing the right things for my longevity so I’m not going to rush back and play when I’m not ready.

Tom Hawkins is no guarantee to play in round 1. Picture: Morgan Hancock

“I think realistically (I’m a) chance to play round 1 but it’s really hard to put a timeline because as my load increases I’ll get more of an indication of whether that’s a possibility.”

Geelong could potentially be without either of its star key forwards, with Jeremy Cameron due to welcome his first child into the world in March and already declaring he would miss a game of football if there was a clash.

Hawkins said his first injury-interrupted pre-season had been frustrating but rewarding.

“It has been certainly a different way to complete pre-season, it’s been frustrating at times but a new approach brings new thinking and new ways to go about things,” he said.

“I’ve got no alternative but to take a positive approach and that’s been how I’ve looked at it, I’ve completed for the last 10 years a full pre-season with minimal setbacks.

Tom Hawkins has not missed a game since 2018. Picture: Morgan Hancock

“I think, without speaking out of school, I’m two or three weeks away from joining with the group in a more full-on capacity.

“I’ll start to build those loads over the next couple of weeks and that will be the natural progression, so a bit of a kick and move with the group at some stage this week, maybe early next week and then build from there.”

“In order to keep my mind mentally fresh my approach has been to not look too far ahead or else i’ll do my head in thinking about all the things I need to tick off.

“Simple mind follows a simple process and that’s one week at a time for me.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats forward Tom Hawkins concedes round 1 game is an outside chance after off-season surgery