Hawks Receive Major Boost as Froling Nears Return
The Illawarra Hawks and their loyal fans have received the news they've been desperately waiting for – star centre Sam Froling is back in training and could make his return to the basketball court much earlier than originally anticipated.
The 25-year-old big man, who was initially expected to return from his Achilles tendon injury in January next year, has made such significant progress in his rehabilitation that he could potentially see game time as early as late December. This revelation came directly from both Froling and Hawks head coach Justin Tatum during training sessions on Thursday, November 27.
The Road to Recovery
Froling's accelerated recovery timeline represents a significant development for the struggling defending NBL champions. The Hawks return from the FIBA break next Thursday with a crucial home clash against South East Melbourne Phoenix at WIN Entertainment Centre on December 4.
This game marks the first of seven fixtures the Hawks will play throughout December, with the silver lining being that five of those contests will be hosted at their home court in Wollongong. Froling's potential return could provide the spark needed to turn around their current 4-9 record.
In an exclusive interview with ACM, Froling opened up about his injury journey, the meticulous steps taken in his rehabilitation, and his burning desire to help the Hawks rediscover their winning form in the second half of the season.
The centre was quick to praise the crucial role played by Hawks' strength and conditioning coach Alex Moore and physiotherapist Scott Muttdon in his remarkable recovery process. "Straight after surgery until now, I've seen one of them almost every day," Froling revealed.
Building a Lethal Partnership
Froling doubled down on comments he previously made to Fox Sports, expressing genuine excitement about the potential of forming a dominant one-two combination with MVP candidate JaVale McGee once he returns to full fitness.
"Initially, I'll probably be on some minutes restriction and likely coming off the bench," Froling explained during coverage of the Hawks' recent loss to Melbourne United. "But many people forget that I actually started my career as a power forward in the NBL."
The Australian big man pointed to his successful partnership with Portland Trail Blazers star Duop Reath during the 2021-22 NBL season as evidence of his capability to excel in the four-spot. During that campaign, which saw the Hawks reach the semi-finals under Brian Goorjian, Froling and Reath combined for impressive numbers: 733 points, 255 rebounds, and 72 blocks while shooting at 50.34 percent from the field.
Froling confirmed that playing alongside McGee remains part of the plan, noting that his injury layoff provided an unexpected opportunity to significantly improve his outside shooting – an aspect of his game he identified as his "biggest weakness."
"The shot has always been my biggest weakness, and Flinny and I just made a really good plan in the offseason to work on that," Froling said. "I'm a lot more confident in it now; it feels a lot better."
While he doesn't expect to transform into a volume three-point shooter overnight, Froling believes even modest improvement could dramatically impact his effectiveness and the team's offensive dynamics.
"I'm not gonna come out and be like a knockdown, you know, six threes a-game guy, but if I can stretch it out for one or two a game, then I think that changes my whole playstyle a whole lot," he explained. "It makes my life a little bit easier, and it should help the team a lot too."
Cautious Approach to Return Timeline
Despite the optimistic outlook, Froling and the Hawks medical staff are taking a measured approach to his return. The centre emphasized that no specific date has been pencilled in for his court comeback, with the earliest possibility being late December.
"We want to get six weeks of full training in before I get on court, just to make sure everything's good," Froling stated. "If we're on court, it would be at the very end of December, otherwise early January."
Froling has already begun participating in some scrimmage sessions during the FIBA break, with his first full squad training occurring on that significant Thursday. He described his recovery process as "pretty straightforward," crediting the well-structured plan developed by his support team and his own commitment to following it meticulously.
"We've had a really good plan, I've had good people to work with in Mutts and Alex and stuck to that plan, and my body's seen visible progress throughout the whole period," Froling said. "It's been hard, but I was never worried about it or anything."
The Hawks organization has demonstrated patience and understanding throughout Froling's rehabilitation, ensuring they won't rush their key big man back until he's completely ready. "We understand that with a significant injury, you make sure everything's right and ready," Froling noted. "Whatever date that is, when I come back, when I feel the best, the club understands that they're not gonna put me in a position that would hurt me."
As the Hawks prepare for their post-break campaign, the potential early return of Sam Froling provides a beacon of hope for a team searching for momentum and a return to the championship form that defined their previous season.
