Hawthorn's hopes for the 2025 AFL season have suffered an early blow, with star midfielder Will Day ruled out for an estimated four months following surgery on his dislocated right shoulder.
Another cruel setback for luckless Hawk
The 24-year-old sustained the injury during a training session last Thursday, marking the latest chapter in a frustrating two-year period marred by complex collarbone and foot problems. While scans confirmed he avoided bone damage in the shoulder, club medical staff determined an operation was necessary to ensure a full recovery.
Day underwent the procedure on Monday, immediately beginning a rehabilitation process expected to keep him off the field until at least the middle of the season. This extends a dismal run of availability for the talented on-baller, who has now missed 23 of Hawthorn's last 29 matches, including all five of their finals appearances over the past two campaigns.
Resilience tested after brutal injury run
Hawthorn's football boss, Rob McCartney, described the incident as a "disappointing setback" for both the player and the club. "We really feel for him at this time," McCartney said in an official statement. "Will is one of the most resilient people I know, and he has done everything possible to return to full fitness already this off-season."
Day was already on a modified training program this pre-season, managing his return from a season-ending navicular bone stress injury in his right foot, suffered in August. He had previously undergone surgery in April for the same issue, which sidelined him for 14 games before a brief return in late July. That comeback lasted just one match before his foot troubles resurfaced.
Injury cloud hangs over AFL pre-season
The misfortune for Day is part of a wider trend of injuries affecting clubs as they ramp up training after the Christmas break. In a separate incident, Adelaide Crows' promising young defender Dan Curtin dislocated his left kneecap during a wrestling drill on Monday.
Early reports suggest the 20-year-old, a recent high draft pick, has escaped major ligament damage, but he was sent for scans to confirm the full diagnosis. The Crows are bracing for Curtin to be sidelined for a minimum of six to eight weeks. There were initial fears he had suffered an ACL rupture, following similar injuries to Carlton's Jesse Motlop and North Melbourne's Jackson Archer earlier in the month.
For Hawthorn and Will Day, the focus now shifts to another long and meticulous recovery, with the club and its fans hoping this is the last of the bad luck for one of their most important players.
