Jaeger O’Meara says positive scans has him feeling positive he’s over past knee issues

HAWKS recruit Jaeger O’Meara says his current knee injury is unrelated to previous issues. And he’s confident he’ll make his mark in 2017. WATCH HIM SPEAK

Jaeger O'Meara is in a training block as he prepares to return to the AFL. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

HAWTHORN’S high-priced recruit Jaeger O’Meara has declared he will be fit to play after the club’s bye in three weeks.

O’Meara has been struck by knee issues since he joined the Hawks from the Gold Coast, where he missed the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to his knee.

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The playmaker has managed just four games, missing six games in total including the past four.

“I understand the panic — Jaeger O’Meara and knee ... but we just decided to pull it back a little bit,” O’Meara told Channel 7 last night.

“My scans are all good, which is the main thing. They’ve all come up clear. I’ve got a little bit of stuff going on but nothing major and nothing to do with my previous surgery.

Jaeger O'Meara tackled by Charlie Cameron Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“I’m really confident that once I’ve done this little conditioning block that will give me a launching pad for the rest of the year and I should be sweet.”

If he does return for Round 14, O’Meara will have missed eight games in total, plus the bye weekend.

The Hawks have clawed back to a four-six ledger after a horror start to the season and star Isaac Smith yesterday said there was more to do before finals become a realistic hope.

The Hawks began with four straight losses but have since won four out of their past six, including Friday night’s away victory against Sydney.

“It’s a tough season to read … we’re two games out of the eight, so we’re certainly not out of it,” Smith said.

“We’ve got some pretty special players that are injured at the moment ... I think as you saw last year — it doesn’t matter where you finish at the end of the year, as long as you give yourself a chance,”

“It has turned around a little bit, but it’s still not exactly where we’d like to be.

“We felt like in the first month of the season we were playing some pretty good quarters of footy, but we couldn’t put a game together. We’re slowly building to playing a more consistent four quarters of footy, but I probably can’t put a finger on (what’s changed).”

“Challenges are good fun, we’re finding the positives in it and working forward as a team.”

Hawthorn’s injury list also includes stars Cyril Rioli, James Frawley and Ben Stratton, who are forecast not to return for eight weeks, six weeks and four weeks respectively.

The Hawks next head to Adelaide to take on Port Adelaide on Thursday night, the 8th placed Power (5-4) coming off a close loss on the road to Geelong.

“We really enjoy going to Adelaide,” Smith said.

“The stadium over there is unbelievable, and the Adelaide fans, and Port fans, are pretty special to play in front of.

“There have always been tight games when we go over there to play … but the group is in a good spot after winning against Sydney on the weekend, so hopefully we can go over there and get the chocolates.”

Hawthorn has notched six wins from eight Adelaide visits in the past five years.

Smith weighed in on Tiger Jayden Short’s controversial deliberate rushed behind on Saturday night.

“He had — what — four or five metres behind him ... we’ve been told if you’ve got clean air behind you, don’t rush it,” Smith said.

“I like the rushed behind rule, I think it’s good for the game and the spectators.”

Hear from Hawk Jaeger O'Meara on that knee.

Tim Watson says the odds are against the midfielder reaching his potential.#TalkingFooty pic.twitter.com/KcxTdaBhr7

— Talking Footy (@talkingfooty) May 29, 2017