AFL: Will Day heads for surgery in big blow for Hawthorn

Hawthorn midfielder Will Day is set for surgery after scans on Monday night revealed stress fractures in his foot.

It is the same injury that hampered the emerging star’s 2024 AFL campaign, and he is now expected to miss several months of footy.

Day reported the issue at the weekend, when the club had a bye, and now heads for an operation to fix the fracture in his navicular bone.

The surgery should reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence, but that is little comfort to the Hawks as they push for premiership glory this year.

Day has been a key figure in Hawthorn’s hot start to the 2025 AFL season, averaging 23 disposals per game and booting five goals.

With the Hawks sitting 4-0 and top of the ladder, online bookmakers have them listed as joint flag favourites at $6 alongside the Brisbane Lions.

Day’s injury also takes a genuine contender out of the 2025 Brownlow Medal betting market.

Top AFL bookies had the 23-year-old as short as $15 in Brownlow odds after Round 3, with only a handful of players at tighter prices.

With Day out of the running, there will be plenty of interest in his teammate Jai Newcombe ($26 at BetOnline) to pick up some extra votes over the course of the season.

For now, the Hawks are focused on their Gather Round clash with Port Adelaide this Sunday.

Sam Mitchell’s men head to South Australia as $1.40 favourites with BetOnline, with the Power paying $2.96 to make a statement after their 1-3 start.

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