Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell has vowed to bounce back following his ongoing recovery to repair the broken leg that he sustained at training last Friday.
The reigning Brownlow medallist has undergone surgery after suffering a mishap during a tackling drill, where he broke his tibia and fibula in his left leg.
Set to miss the entire 2019 season in rehab, the 25-year-old posted a series of photos on Instagram from the hospital bed to reassure fans that he'll bounce back as soon as possible.
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“I am overwhelmed by the amount of visitors and kind messages I have received,” Mitchell said.
“I am grateful for all of the support I have around me — my partner, my family and friends, my teammates, the medical team, the football club and our supporters.
“The highs and lows can change in a second but I am up for another challenge and will be back out there in no time.”
Although the Hawks are prepared to lose their star player for the entire season, they are also confident that he will make a full recovery.
“For Tom to suffer an injury like this is incredibly disappointing for both him and our footy club,” said GM Football Graham Wright.
“He will undergo surgery over the weekend and as a result will most likely miss the 2019 season.
“However, Tom is a very resilient young man and we have no doubt that he will tackle his rehab with the same professionalism and diligence with which he approaches his training.”
The club has until March 15 to add a rookie to their list to replace the star midfielder.
All AFL clubs will return to training on Monday as their mandated pre-season break comes to an end.