Opinion Would you play Hawkins next week?

[ManWithNoName]

This article makes his back injury sound rather serious. I have full confidence the doctors are thinking about Tom's career and life after footy. Sounds awful though.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...uture-is-unclear/story-fni5f6yf-1226715445350

GEELONG star Tom Hawkins is considered a real chance to play this Friday night against Port Adelaide but his long-term future remains unclear due to a degenerative disc.
The disc problem is believed to have led to instability in some vertebrae making it harder to manage the pain.
Long-term the degeneration could lead to spinal surgery and in Hawkins’ case it would be a bigger operation than experienced by teammate Dawson Simpson and others in Brad Ottens and Garry Lyon.
According to a source yesterday surgery has not been planned but if required would involve fusion to stabilise vertebrae which could involve a recovery period of six months.
Geelong and Hawkins had been managing the issue with reasonable success until the end of June and in recent weeks his training workloads have dropped off along with his match conditioning and touch.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

This article makes his back injury sound rather serious. I have full confidence the doctors are thinking about Tom's career and life after footy. Sounds awful though.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...uture-is-unclear/story-fni5f6yf-1226715445350

If that's true, then put him on ice. Get himself right for next year.

Not worth it if it will mean it will get worse. And we're already have some key players looking tired/sore.

Play Vardy fwd and bring in West.

 

[topic97]

If that's true, then put him on ice. Get himself right for next year.

Not worth it if it will mean it will get worse. And we're already have some key players looking tired/sore.

Play Vardy fwd and bring in West.

Yep, I rekon this is the solution right there.

If Hawkins back is as bad as they say, get him surgery asap, get Vardy in the forward line permanently, & get West as number one ruck.

He might not be our best rucking option, but we need two power forwards to be able to do any damage with our setup.
And lets face it, our best rucking options are injured and wont play this year.

We all know our team can win and win well and still not dominate the clearances, but we need our two big talls to be able to do that.

 

[Cataholic]

That's the elephant in the room right there , forget about this season what about the future?
You can't have him as a week to week proposition , what if it gets worse and degenerates to the extent he can't compete?

We need to have a contingency in place for 2014 , is Vardy the answer , Walker , how do we use Kersten?
Or do we chase Boyd? Going to be a busy off season.

while the nature, severity and prognosis of the physical injury is an obvious factor, Hawkin's mental state will also be an issue. Will he have the desire and ability to play on with pain and an inability to play to potential if he were diagnosed with any significant, on-going deterioration?

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

while the nature, severity and prognosis of the physical injury is an obvious factor, Hawkin's mental state will also be an issue. Will he have the desire and ability to play on with pain and an inability to play to potential if he were diagnosed with any significant, on-going deterioration?

You're right Cataholic , both the physical and mental side will produce enormous challenges for him to play AFL. At the end of the day it is his welfare that must be the priority , you're a long time out of football after all.
Tragic to think Egan and Hawkins could have their careers cut tragically short.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Yep, I rekon this is the solution right there.

If Hawkins back is as bad as they say, get him surgery asap, get Vardy in the forward line permanently, & get West as number one ruck.

He might not be our best rucking option, but we need two power forwards to be able to do any damage with our setup.
And lets face it, our best rucking options are injured and wont play this year.

We all know our team can win and win well and still not dominate the clearances, but we need our two big talls to be able to do that.

It was the solution last week too, but it didn't happen.
I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Skerret]

This is not good. I hope it's treatable, football-wise or not. Forget footy; he may need to seriously consider cutting his career short if this goes awry, you don't muck about with spines.

Bathie, anybody? *ducks*

 

[AM]

Hawk indicated on Footy Classified tonight he made the call not to play on Saturday. His back was feeling better and he expected to turn out on Friday.

 

[Beanstalk]

I think we just NEED to play him... He's likely to kick 2 or 3, something Walker isn't giving us.

 

[Beanstalk]

Yeah I saw that on FC as well... Getting nervous with all this 'Could end his career' talk...

 

[Skerret]

He kicked 6 v Port earlier this year, COME ON T.HAWK

 

[Cataholic]

You're right Cataholic , both the physical and mental side will produce enormous challenges for him to play AFL. At the end of the day it is his welfare that must be the priority , you're a long time out of football after all.
Tragic to think Egan and Hawkins could have their careers cut tragically short.

you can bet the potential curtailing of Hawkin's career will have suddenly and sharply focussed the GFC's attention on our prospects and needs at FF.

 

[Cataholic]

Hawk indicated on Footy Classified tonight he made the call not to play on Saturday. His back was feeling better and he expected to turn out on Friday.

Without being dramatic, his body language and use of the word 'hopeful' didn't give me a lot of confidence.

 

[cynical]

Hawkins is done.

Mitch Brown is the answer not Vardy or Kersten

 

[FredLeDeux]

Hawkins is done.

Mitch Brown is the answer not Vardy or Kersten

If Mitch Brown is the answer, it must be a deadset peculiar question.

 

[Cataholic]

Hawkins is done.

Mitch Brown is the answer not Vardy or Kersten

That's a definitive statement!

Just your opinion, or are you privy to some information about the particulars of his injury and its implications?

 

[Johanpetro]

Hawkins is done.

Mitch Brown is the answer not Vardy or Kersten

Mitch Brown is the answer to the question that nobody asked.

 

[Beth]

Well I hope the next 50 years aren't too badly affected by his back. Do what's best for your life Tommy, you are a premiership hero forever.

Onto business what's the long term plan? Who does Chris Scott have to sleep with to get Tom Boyd?

 

[Stoney]

Hawkins career isn't over, geeze some people over-react.

Worst case: He might need a year off, which is absolute worst case. Do the surgery, 6-8 months to recover, and play it safe and give him some time to build up his fitness base again.

Best case: We book him in for the surgery the week after our season ends, and he has a slightly delayed start to the season next year.

While it is true that the disc degeneration is likely to progress over time, the low back pain from degenerative disc disease usually does not get worse and in fact usually gets better over time.

Whilst playing sport may aggrevate the condition, it doesnt necessarily worsen the condition. There are many medical journals that support this, but of course the media don't want to publish this because their aim is to sell news - and bad news sells.

Don't get me wrong, this is a severe injury (that can be treated), but it's by no means a career threatening one.

 

[catempire]

Hawkins career isn't over, geeze some people over-react.

Worst case: He might need a year off, which is absolute worst case. Do the surgery, 6-8 months to recover, and play it safe and give him some time to build up his fitness base again.

Best case: We book him in for the surgery the week after our season ends, and he has a slightly delayed start to the season next year.

While it is true that the disc degeneration is likely to progress over time, the low back pain from degenerative disc disease usually does not get worse and in fact usually gets better over time.

Whilst playing sport may aggrevate the condition, it doesnt necessarily worsen the condition. There are many medical journals that support this, but of course the media don't want to publish this because their aim is to sell news - and bad news sells.

Don't get me wrong, this is a severe injury (that can be treated), but it's by no means a career threatening one.

Good post, but I'm interested in the bolded... do you mean that while the condition may get worse (i.e. it's degenerative), the pain doesn't? That's interesting...

 

[Cataholic]

Has there ever been a definitive statement about by the club about the exact nature of Hawkin's condition?

It seems to be the general consensus that it is a bulging disc or similar - but has this come from the club or is it a general opinion that has become accepted as 'fact' ?

Whatley and Robinson made some interesting comments on AFL 360 last night, saying the club had been obtuse and less than forthcoming (my summation) on disclosing the nature of his injury.

Not that they have any obligation to do so mind you......

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Has there ever been a definitive statement about by the club about the exact nature of Hawkin's condition?

It seems to be the general consensus that it is a bulging disc or similar - but has this come from the club or is it a general opinion that has become accepted as 'fact' ?

Whatley and Robinson made some interesting comments on AFL 360 last night, saying the club had been obtuse and less than forthcoming (my summation) on disclosing the nature of his injury.

Not that they have any obligation to do so mind you......

Can you imagine that bumbling oaf explaining Toms condition , would really get the wrist flick and spittle flowing from that face that only a mother could love ......

 

[Jon Douglas]

I think the Cats will play Hawkins this week - if he can walk and run. Will offer more than Walker.

We might have won had Tommy played last week - 2- goals and some better contests for our crumbers to work with and we may have got enough goals to win.

So if he can play, even a limited role, he will play IMO.

They will assess each week, try get him up and work out the best solution in the off season for getting him fit again. Yes he may miss a lot of next season - but that would be better than an Egan outcome.

Lets hope Walker, Brown, Vardy or Kersten can improve dramatically next season.

Not sure why people are so down on Brown - yep no Hawkins but could be a better choice than Walker right now as a forward.