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There are serious concerns about Geelong veteran Tom Hawkins after going down with a harmless leg injury vs Carlton on Friday night.
The 35-year-old AFL star, who turns 36 next month, hit the ground when his leg gave out under him as he tried to accelerate to drive to the ball in the third quarter.
WATCH ABOVE: Tom Hawkins falls with harmless leg injury.
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There did not appear to be an ankle twist in the incident and there was apparently no contact from Hawkins’ direct opponent.
He was immediately taken to the rooms and ruled out for the rest of the match.
“The big worry in this third quarter is Tom Hawkins,” Abbey Holmes said at three-quarter time.
“We saw the incident, it was very harmless, there was no rolling of the ankle or any change of direction, but he immediately felt a lot of pain and just grabbed his right leg.
“It was just when it blew off the target.
“I’ve spoken to the Cats, he’s still in the rooms and won’t be taking part in tonight’s game anymore.”
Brian Taylor worried about what that meant for the 359-game veteran.
“I think we all agree that we are concerned about Tom Hawkins,” he said.
“The way it happened, the whole thing, is disturbing.”
Matthew Richardson said “just the mechanism of it” is of particular importance.
Triple M’s Rudy Edsall voiced what everyone was thinking.
“I am extremely concerned that this is the end of Hawkins’ career. Quite upset about it to be honest,” he said.
Supercoaching expert Al Payton added: “Tom Hawkins was kind of 27 for a decade. Suddenly he turns 45.
Hawkins watched most of the final quarter in rooms with his wife and father.
The Cats blade was already struggling in the game goalless from just three disposals.
Asked about the injury after the game, Geelong coach Chris Scott could not elaborate.
“I really can’t give you much more. I can’t say the news is good, but I’m not saying it’s bad either,” he said.
“He had to come off with a foot problem, in the middle of his leg.
“He’s had a toe problem so it’s a long way from that, it’s not the same injury.
“The experts we have don’t know, so I certainly don’t have much more to add.”
It compounded an already disastrous night for the Cats, who were dominated by the Blues to lose 21.12 (138) to 11.9 (75).
It is the highest score for second-placed Carlton this season and a strong message to top-seeded Sydney.
The result was a far cry from their last clash, when Geelong won by 13 points on 27 April for a 7–0 start.
Since then, the Cats have lost six of their last seven.
It was Dangerfield’s first game in eight weeks, after suffering his second hamstring injury of the season.
He racked up 17 possessions, but he is will surely come under the control of the match review officer for dangerous entry.
In front of 75,218 fans, the Blues were supreme with captain Patrick Cripps and Tom De Koning featuring and Charlie Curnow scoring five goals.
Cripps racked up 41 possessions and 13 clearances.
Blues stopper Alex Cincotta came on from midfield to play Cats star Tom Stewart in a full-back role.
Not only did Cincotta add Stewart to his impressive list of scalps, he also bagged two goals.
Opposing him was De Koning’s younger brother, Sam, who did not have much experience in battle.
Although it was a one-sided contest, they had a few sibling arguments to keep it fun.
Geelong kicked the last three goals of the third term to be in touch, just 27 points behind.
But the Blues kicked into gear and racked up 10 to 3 goals in the final quarter.
In an eventful opener, Dangerfield was penalized for a dangerous tackle on Sam Walsh, whose head hit the turf.
A moment later, Tom de Koning rejected his brother Sam in a rough duel, grabbed the ball and scored Carlton’s first goal.
The Blues quickly took a three goal lead and that set the tone for the evening.
Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron kicked three goals.
– With AAP
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