Hawthorn is turning to the Australian Ballet to help with star midfielder Will Day's navicular injury.
Day has been sidelined since Round 3 after scans revealed he had suffered a stress fracture in the navicular bone of his foot, which ultimately required surgery.
At the time, the Hawks put a return date of three to four months, but fears circulated given the injury was a recurrence from 12 months earlier.
The injury has been common among the AFL fraternity, and can be a debilitating injury that could have career-long effects.
However, in a bid to get Day back to full health, the Hawks have looked at unique measures, which were revealed by Channel 7's Mitch Cleary.
"As for Will Day, he's hoping to play the final three games of the home and away season," Cleary said.
"Turning to the Australian ballet physio to rehab navicular stress fracture."
Day, who is hopeful of returning to play before the finals, will jump on the AlterG, which uses a calibrated pressure chamber to counteract gravitational forces and make you feel weightless.
The Hawks are taking new measures to get their prime ball winner back up and running. Chief Footy Reporter @cleary_mitch is at a special gala function. https://t.co/5zYfOfFT4D @7AFL #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/aG0BXmFazz
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) May 27, 2025
"Get on the AlterG (Wednesday)," Day said.
"I'm keen to get moving again. We'll just keep progressing, quite safely, but also at a pace that we think is right. I'm really excited for the back end of the year.
"We haven't really pencilled any (return date) yet. I'm really confident I'll play before the finals start. That's all I really got at the moment.
"Just tracking towards that and doing everything I can."
Over the past two seasons, the influence Day has on the Hawks is profound; they have won 16 of 20 clashes he has played in. But on the contrary, in his absence, they've lost 10 of 16 matches.
Hawthorn will attempt to snap a two-game losing streak against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night.
