Jaeger O’Meara backs Hawthorn’s medical team to reignite his career

JAEGER O’Meara was won over by Hawthorn’s ability to resuscitate his career in the same manner as evergreen midfielder Shaun Burgoyne.

Jaeger O'Meara wants a trade to Hawthorn. Picture: Adam Head

JAEGER O’Meara was won over by Hawthorn’s potential to resuscitate his career in the same manner as evergreen midfielder Shaun Burgoyne.

Hawthorn will also secure Sydney’s Tom Mitchell in coming weeks after he passes up an offer from the Swans worth less than $2 million over five years.

O’Meara has denied speculation he chose Hawthorn at the start of the year, adamant he was desperately close to remaining at Gold Coast.

But after two seasons without a senior game because of continuing patella tendon issues, Hawthorn’s elite medical and conditioning team reassured O’Meara he could return to the top echelon.

Led by fitness boss Andrew Russell, the Hawks have worked wonders helping players like Burgoyne, Shane Crawford and Max Bailey to either extend their careers or get to the line in premierships.

After 157 games at Port Adelaide, Burgoyne arrived at the Hawks on crutches after knee surgery but, since making his Hawks debut in Round 8, 2010, he has played 161 of 163 games — and he missed those two games for rest rather than injury.

Gold Coast now has outstanding fitness boss Justin Cordy, but O’Meara felt he needed a change.

Jaeger O'Meara wants a trade to Hawthorn. Picture: Adam Head

Hawthorn has made it clear it would not have offered O’Meara a new home if it couldn’t close a deal with Gold Coast, and Hawks recruiter Graham Wright and Suns recruiter Scott Clayton will commence negotiations soon.

Sydney’s Mitchell, offered just above the average AFL wage by Sydney, has made it clear his intention is to get to Hawthorn next year rather than take a pay cut to stay.

The Herald Sun understands the Swans have offered him a five-year deal but he will find his way to the Hawks instead.

He is the first casualty of the Swans’ massive wage bill for Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett, as delayed CBA talks continue the uncertainty about the size of a salary cap increase.

O’Meara is travelling in the US, but has been assured he is likely to get to his chosen destination.

Tom Mitchell is set to leave the Swans. Picture: Getty Images

His wage would likely be around $700,000 a season after knocking back a two-year $1.8 million deal at Gold Coast, and the Suns offered a longer tenure in the days before he departed.

Burgoyne’s injury was not identical to O’Meara’s, but the Gold Coast star is reassured the Hawks can help him out after knee soreness again late in the year.

O’Meara flew to London after the 2014 season to have surgery on both his patella tendons, but in April 2015 he suffered a patella rupture in his comeback match after an opponent fell across his knee.

Former Hawthorn premiership captain Crawford told the Herald Sun last year that fitness boss Russell was the Hawks’ secret weapon because of his ability to find programs that allowed injured players to flourish.

Crawford at one stage seemed destined to miss Hawthorn’s 2008 finals campaign with knee tendinitis, but he and Russell worked together to break through the pain barrier and the fan favourite had his triumphant farewell moment on the premiership dais.