Tom Hawkins is safe. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
GEELONG forward Tom Hawkins' place in the Cats side is secure despite coach Chris Scott saying no player had a "golden ticket''.
Medical experts and the Cats say even a month-long mid-season break would not have fixed Hawkins' troublesome back.
Hawkins has what is believed to be a lumbar disc problem that flares up despite cortisone injections to soothe the painful area.
He is expected to make a full recovery in the off-season but seems no chance to regain his explosive power or flexibility for the finals.
Apart from a five-goal haul against a St Kilda side missing its key defenders, he has just one goal-haul above two goals in the past ten weeks.
But his accurate 45.14 means he has kept his spot, despite what former St Kilda doctor Rohan White said would be an extremely painful condition.
"Given the problem could be a lumbar disc which requires some epidural injections, the ultimate treatment will be some medium-term rest of the pre-season with a return and full recovery for 2014,'' he said.
Cats football manager Neil Balme said the Cats were backing Hawkins in.
"We think he is going OK. He didn't play all that well last weekend. The truth is if you have that amount (four weeks) off in the middle of the season it doens't necessarily fix it and it's not the best for it.''
Players with back injuries lose all explosiveness in their running, and are unable to make short, sharp movements to react quickly to the ball in flight.
While Hawkins would be getting extensive treatment and working to strengthen his core, back injuries are notoriously slow to heal.
An off-season with plenty of treatment yet none of the rigours of training and playing should allow the problem to heal.
Scott was furious with Cats supporters on the weekend after Hawkins received bronx cheers for a late possession.
"It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing for all of Geelong. We've got some pretty ugly supporters, if that's the case. They've been well looked after for a long period of time, and we expect better,'' he said.
Paul Chapman was excellent in the VFL on Sunday, but a six-day break and flight to Perth to take on West Coast at Patersons Stadium would make a senior return unlikely.
The Cats have always planned for him to have another VFL hit-out, but have not discussed whether his return to AFL will be fast-tracked given his form.
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