Hawthorn recruit Jaeger O'Meara is reportedly one more setback away from a "career ending" knee injury according to The Footy Show journalist Damian Barrett.
Barrett joined the show on Wednesday night to discuss O'Meara's current situation among other issues, and said the 23-year-old could have his career cut short should he suffer another setback to his troublesome knee.
"A medical official familiar with Jaeger O'Meara's knee condition has told us tonight the latest comeback over O'Meara will be done so in the knowledge that another setback to his problematic knee could be career ending," Barrett said.
"In layman's terms, the tendinitis with which he played at the Gold Coast Suns in 2013 and 2014 is effectively permanent, and he's dealing with that for the remainder of his career.
"Just on the comeback, the Hawks are yet to lock in a specific weekend for a return to football for Jaeger O'Meara, but they are hopeful it will be in the next 2-3 weeks."
O'Meara came to Hawthorn in the off-season after not featuring in the past two seasons with Gold Coast, with his last AFL game for the Suns back in round 23, 2014.
The midfielder missed the 2015 and 2016 campaigns with the injury, and was reportedly scheduled to miss Hawthorn's opening five rounds before returning in round six, although the Hawks decided against that plan during the pre-season.
O'Meara played in Hawthorn's opening three matches this season before missing rounds four and five, only to return in round six against St Kilda and injure his knee again.