Geelong star suffers potential career-ending injury against Carlton

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Three-time AFL Grand Final winner Tom Hawkins limped off the pitch with an apparent foot injury against Carlton in Geelong’s heavy 138-75 loss to the Blues. The injury looked to be a minor one, but some in the AFL world are wondering if it could be a career-ender for the 35-year-old. 

Tom Hawkins suffers scary injury 

Tom Hawkins limped off the field late in the third quarter of Carlton vs. Geelong’s match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday night. The veteran forward was later spotted on the bench with crutches.  
 
For any other player, this would seem like a rather innocuous injury. For Hawkins, it immediately raised red flags.  
 
ABC Sport journalist Kyle Pollard said on X: “Hawkins with the crutches is tough to see. Hope it’s not the last we see of him, but if it is, what an asset he’s been for the Geelong footy club.” 
 
Triple M’s Rudi Edsall echoed Pollard’s sentiment, saying “Massively concerned that’s a career-ender for Hawkins. Pretty torn up about it to be honest.” 
 
Former Demons star Garry Lyon also chimed in on Fox Footy by comparing the injury to his own career troubles near the end.  
 
“We all know the end comes quickly, it jumps on your back. I hope he can get back before the end of the season, but what he’s been able to do the last month suggests his time is almost up,” Lyon said.  
 
After the match, Channel 7’s Abbey Holmes said: “The big concern during that third quarter lies with Tom Hawkins. 
 
“We saw the incident, it was very innocuous, there was no roll of the ankle or any change of direction, but he was in a lot of pain straight away and he just grabbed at that foot,” Holmes said referring Hawkins’ left foot, which was severely injured in Geelong’s 2022 Premiership win. 

Cats boss “concerned” by injury 

Abbey Holmes was not the only one worried about Hawkins’ left foot. Geelong boss Chris Scott also expressed his concern after the match.  
 
“I can’t say the news is good news, but I’m not saying it’s bad either,” Scott said, before clarifying that it might not be as worrisome an injury as the experts suggest it could be.  
 
“He had to come off with a mid-foot issue, he has had a problem with his toe. It’s a fair way away from that, it’s not the same injury, but the experts we have don’t know so I certainly don’t have anything more to add. 
 
“Yeah (it is the foot Hawkins had surgery on), but I’d encourage you to not make that leap. To make that connection I think is a little premature. 
 
“They’re not saying (retirement)--and I certainly don’t want to say anything that alleviates the concern–because we’re concerned, but I don’t want to jump to conclusions either.” 

Tests will be performed on Hawkins sometime this week. Barring a miracle, the 35-year-old will not feature in Geelong’s upcoming fixture against Essendon next Saturday.  
 
The Cats have lost six of their last seven matches. The betting sites expect them to break their rut and beat Essendon at home next weekend.