While admitting it’s highly unlikely, injured Hawthorn star Tom Mitchell still won’t completely rule out making a shock return this season.
The reigning Brownlow Medallist broke his leg at a pre-season training session in January, with the Hawks suspecting he would miss the entire season.
“It’s really hard to say, I would say it’s highly unlikely (returning this year),” Mitchell told SEN’s Time On.
“But never say never, I always want to hang onto a little bit of hope. If the team’s playing finals, I would love to be a part of that.
“I won’t completely rule it out, but it will be up to the medical team in the end.”
Mitchell, 25, says his rehabilitation is going as planned but a fixed return date hasn’t been set for the prolific midfielder.
“Everyone recovers differently at different rates, but at the moment I’m on the bike, I’m in the pool, I’m in the gym and I’m feeling pretty good walking around with little pain,” he said.
“I’ll say it’s all progressing pretty nicely at the moment and in terms of getting back to training and playing, it’s really too hard to tell.
“In terms of making a full recovery then that won’t be an issue at all.”
The Hawks open their 2019 campaign on Sunday against the Crows at the Adelaide Oval.
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