Surgery sidelines top pick
Emma Quayle
March 4, 2007
Out of luck: Hawk Mitch Thorp.
Photo: Getty Images
HAWTHORN'S latest first-round draft choice, Mitch Thorp, will have hip surgery this week.
Thorp chosen at No. 6 last November, has been frustrated by groin soreness throughout his first pre-season, and because of his latest setback is unlikely to play much football at any level for the first half of the season.
The 18-year-old has a small cartilage tear in the hip, and the injury is similar to the one that sidelined fellow Hawk Danny Jacobs before Christmas.
His problems have arisen a year after the Hawks used two their first five choices in the 2005 draft on injured youngsters — Beau Dowler and Beau Muston — and almost two months after another, Max Bailey, had a knee reconstruction.
Dowler, who arrived with a broken pelvis, played two games late last year, and the club has been encouraged by the pre-season form of midfielder Muston, who has had two knee reconstructions.
Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said the club hoped Thorp's groin soreness had in fact been caused by his hip injury, and that both problems would be solved with the arthroscope.
"Mitch should be pretty much back into full training within five to six weeks, but he's a young player, so we'll probably wait and see how he goes after that," Evans said.
"He's had some groin pain that we've been dealing with across the summer, and the current thinking is that it might be the hip causing the pain, so with some luck for him, he'll have the arthroscope done and that will take care of everything.
"We'll be led by the conditioning people as to when he's ready to play, but we're not looking to rush him."
Jacobs, meanwhile, has been back in full training for about six weeks, and could make his first pre-season appearance as soon as next weekend.
Promising midfielder Grant Birchall, selected at pick 14 in the 2005 national draft, has signed a contract extension that will tie him to the Hawks until the end of the 2009 season.
Emma Quayle
March 4, 2007
Photo: Getty Images
HAWTHORN'S latest first-round draft choice, Mitch Thorp, will have hip surgery this week.
Thorp chosen at No. 6 last November, has been frustrated by groin soreness throughout his first pre-season, and because of his latest setback is unlikely to play much football at any level for the first half of the season.
The 18-year-old has a small cartilage tear in the hip, and the injury is similar to the one that sidelined fellow Hawk Danny Jacobs before Christmas.
His problems have arisen a year after the Hawks used two their first five choices in the 2005 draft on injured youngsters — Beau Dowler and Beau Muston — and almost two months after another, Max Bailey, had a knee reconstruction.
Dowler, who arrived with a broken pelvis, played two games late last year, and the club has been encouraged by the pre-season form of midfielder Muston, who has had two knee reconstructions.
Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said the club hoped Thorp's groin soreness had in fact been caused by his hip injury, and that both problems would be solved with the arthroscope.
"Mitch should be pretty much back into full training within five to six weeks, but he's a young player, so we'll probably wait and see how he goes after that," Evans said.
"He's had some groin pain that we've been dealing with across the summer, and the current thinking is that it might be the hip causing the pain, so with some luck for him, he'll have the arthroscope done and that will take care of everything.
"We'll be led by the conditioning people as to when he's ready to play, but we're not looking to rush him."
Jacobs, meanwhile, has been back in full training for about six weeks, and could make his first pre-season appearance as soon as next weekend.
Promising midfielder Grant Birchall, selected at pick 14 in the 2005 national draft, has signed a contract extension that will tie him to the Hawks until the end of the 2009 season.
