Hamish McIntosh Biography

Hamish McIntosh joins Carlton as their new ruck coach ahead of the 2019 season.

"As a former AFL ruckman who has only recently left the game, we believe Hamish has valuable experience and knowledge that will aid the development of our emerging rucks, so we're thrilled to have him on board," Carlton footy boss Brad Lloyd said.

Hamish McIntosh has been forced to retire after succumbing to another ankle injury.

The 30-year-old announced his immediate retirement after revealing he needs surgery on his ankle.

"It's been an emotional few days," McIntosh said.

"Unfortunately, my ankle has broken down again and I need surgery next week, so it's obviously forced my hand a little bit.

"I'll be retiring from AFL footy today. It's sad ... I've been a bit of a mess, really, because it's been an amazing journey to play for 13 years for two great clubs, in North Melbourne and here.

"It's been a ball, it's been so much fun, but unfortunately it all ends today."

Geelong remains hopeful that ruckman Hamish McIntosh will be available for next week's preliminary final in Sydney, if the Cats make it, despite undergoing knee surgery on Tuesday.

Geelong has ruled out ruckman Hamish McIntosh from Friday night's semi-final against North Melbourne due to knee soreness.

"We were hopeful that that would be enough to have him in good shape for the finals series, but he just laboured too badly on that sore (knee) on the weekend, so we've got to do something about," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

"We're hopeful that Hamish can go through a rehab plan over the next week, week and a half, to get himself in a position, if we're good enough to win on Friday night, to play the following week."

Hamish McIntosh admits his rivalry with fellow Geelong ruckman Dawson Simpson is driving him to greater heights.

McIntosh and Simpson have not played in the same side since the Cats were flogged by 110 points by the Sydney Swans in round 11, but have regularly swapped No.1 ruck duties since.

"Dawson and I had a really good relationship and partnership the first nine or 10 weeks and it worked really well. Since then (we've) been in and out of the side," McIntosh said.

"If it's one of us or both of us each week, if it's myself and 'Blics', I'll do what I'm told from 'Scotty' and we'll go from there.

"But I'm looking forward to reuniting my partnership with 'Daws' - if that happens in the next few weeks - and I feel like I can be a real positive strength for the side."

Hamish McIntosh will face his former North Melbourne teammates for the first time when the Cats take on the Kangaroos this week.

"When you play there for 10 years you've got a lot of great relationships and great mates, but obviously I'm very keen to have a win and make sure I get the brownie points and can brag amongst the boys for the next couple of months," McIntosh said.

Hamish McIntosh makes his long-awaited debut for the Cats in Geelong's 2014 season opener against the Crows at Simonds Stadium.

"Hamish McIntosh probably became a Geelong player tonight," Geelong coach Chris Scott said.

"He's had to fight hard to earn the respect of his teammates. You can be a fantastic trainer and a great bike rider, but unless you get the opportunity to do it out there on the track in games, it's very difficult to earn that respect."

Hamish McIntosh is hoping to make his AFL return in round one after 648 days without a game.

"We play my old mob North (Melbourne) the week after (in a practice match). If the form's alright and I get through those games, fingers crossed I'd love to get up for round one," McIntosh told Sportsday Radio.

"It's been a really tough two years. I've certainly missed it, it's been a long journey. Right now I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm getting there."

Geelong coach Chris Scott says the workload of Dawson Simpson and Hamish McIntosh will be closely managed this year.

Both big men have battled injuries in recent seasons, and the Cats are desperate for them to last the distance in 2014.

"I think in combination we're confident that we'll get a full season out of them," Scott told AFL.com.au.

"Individually, I can guarantee you we won't, because we have plans to manage their seasons. They won't play every game.

"Hopefully all of our decisions are by design and not forced upon us by injuries, but the early indications are pretty positive.

"But we're realistic as well. Hamish has played eight games in three years. Dawson's had two lots of back surgery and a knee issue towards the end of last season.

"So we're optimistic, but we're also aware of the hurdles that they have faced."

Harry Taylor says teammates Hamish McIntosh and Dawson Simpson are relishing the opportunity to be back in training after recovering from injuries.

"They're competing against each other a lot and just enjoying that opportunity to be around the boys and ride the emotional rollercoaster that you do as an AFL player," Taylor said.

"You spend a lot of rehab time by yourself, so to be able to put the jumper on and train means they're both pretty happy at the moment, which is good."

Geelong coach Chris Scott says he is optimistic that ruckman Hamish McIntosh will be fit to play in the pre-season competition.

"He's doing all the training that we're asking of him and he's making a difference to the way we're training on the track," Scott said.

"I should speak cautiously when it comes to Hamish because he's missed a hell of a lot of footy. Until he gets some consistency, week after week, and can back up from hard games, then it would be folly for us to get too excited.

"He'll definitely play pre-season games … but it wouldn't surprise at all for Hamish to play the first game available to him."

After a horror season with injuries in 2013, Geelong hopes that Hamish McIntosh can prove his worth in 2014.

"He was in good shape by the end of the season, in terms of training, which has us all optimistic that moving into next year he'll be able to prepare really well by having a good pre-season," Geelong assistant coach Dale Amos said.

"There's no doubting his ability and the influence he could have on our team if we are able to get him right.

"Everything at the minute points to that being the case. We just need him to have a really positive pre-season, not have any setbacks, and be ready to play early in 2014."

Hamish McIntosh is likely to miss the rest of the season after undergoing ankle surgery.

"Hamish had been experiencing pain in his ankle that wasn't responding to treatment as hoped," Geelong football manager Neil Balme said.

"We sent him in for a scope to see if we could find the source of the problem and thankfully they did.

"The surgeon found the problem to be around his subtalar joint. The outcome was the best-case scenario for Hamish."

Hamish McIntosh says dealing with injuries this year has been challenging.

"It's been a long 12 or 13 months now since I've played a game of footy. It's been frustrating," McIntosh said.

"Now my knee feels really good, really strong. That's actually not the problem at the moment.

"I've had a few complications on the other side of my body. At the minute it's just a little ankle issue. It's nothing serious. It's annoying more than anything."

After getting over a knee injury, Hamish McIntosh suffers another setback with an ankle complaint.

"We've tried a couple of different interventions, but he's still having a little bit of a niggle in that ankle," Geelong physio Mike Snelling said.

"We don't think it's going to be that bad, and we're hoping we can get on top of it in the next few days to a week and then get him back out and get some more training into him.

"So he's still a work in progress, unfortunately."

Geelong recruit Hamish McIntosh has been dealt a blow in his return from a recurring knee injury after having to sit out for three weeks following surgery to remove fluid from the back of his knee.

"It's the same knee, different problem but it's very minor," Scott said.

"It was something the surgery can fix quite quickly the surgeon tells us."

Hamish McIntosh hopes to be fit for a return during the NAB Cup as he recovers from LARS surgery.

"I've been doing all the skills and getting a lot of work in, but I just haven't been able to do the full-contact game scenario sort of stuff," McIntosh said.

"After Christmas, as long as it keeps going well and keeps improving as it has, I'd imagine that on the first day back I'll be into full contact, completely out of rehab.

"I'm looking forward to getting back into it and playing the real stuff. That's what you miss most, especially with the injuries I've had in the two years before this."

Hamish McIntosh is looking forward to opportunities at his new club in Geelong after saying he struggled to gel in the ruck with Todd Goldstein at North Melbourne.

"Todd and I probably weren't connecting well, and then I went down injured and missed the rest of the year," McIntosh said.

"Probably from halfway through the year I realised that it was probably time to go and move on and look for other opportunities.

"When I heard about this opportunity to come to Geelong … it's such a great club that I grabbed it with both hands.

"I'm just looking to getting my body right and improving my footy and helping the Cats get some more success in the next couple of years."

North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh moves to Geelong on a three-year contract.

"Obviously it's disappointing to lose Hamish but we wish him all the best for his future and acknowledge the significant contribution he's made to our football club," North football chief Donald McDonald said.

Ruckman Hamish McIntosh has requested a trade and nominated Geelong as his preferred destination.

"We've asked [North Melbourne] to be fair in their negotiations and, if possible, facilitate a trade if it suits both parties," McIntosh's manager Tom Petroro said.

"There's interest across three or four clubs but I would say Geelong is the keenest and probably the one that we're prepared to go down the path with at this point."

Geelong football manager Neil Balme says Demons defender Jared Rivers and Roos ruckman Hamish McIntosh remain in its sights.

Geelong is believed to be interested in securing North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh.

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott says North Melbourne did extensive research before deciding on LARS surgery for ruckman Hamish McIntosh.

"With the PCL we feel that it's the best course of action and the quickest course of action to get (McIntosh) back," Scott said.

"But also it's the method that's going to give him the best chance to have a long career ahead of him."

North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh will undergo LARS surgery in his right knee and will not play for the rest of the season.

"I'm really confident this is the best path for me and I want to ensure that I can stabilise my knee and be right to go for day one of the pre-season,'' McIntosh said.

"This is in the best interests of my long-term playing future and will allow me to have my second full pre-season in a row."

North Melbourne's Hamish McIntosh will resume in the VFL this weekend after being sidelined since round seven.

"He's been a little bit longer than we anticipated, [he] just [had] one minor hiccup along the way," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"But it's great to have him back. He's been training for a while, so match fitness shouldn't be too much of an issue."

North ruckman Hamish McIntosh suffers a serious injury at training and will require surgery that will keep him out of action for another six weeks.

Scans have revealed Hamish sustained a lateral meniscus tear to his knee and will require arthroscopic surgery," Kangaroos director of medical services Steve Saunders said.

"This is obviously very frustrating for Hamish because he was close to returning to play from a previous injury."

North ruckman Hamish McIntosh has received good news after injuring his knee against the Western Bulldogs.

"The scans have revealed he's got a very bruised and swollen knee so that's great news," North director of medical services Steve Saunders said.

"There's a clean slate with regard to ligament damage which is fantastic. We'll be doing everything we can to try to reduce the swelling as much as we can in the next few days."

Hamish McIntosh says he is embarrassed and disappointed after failing to convert an after-the-siren kick against Essendon in Round 1 that could have snatched a win for his side.

"It's every kid's dream to kick a goal after the siren. I just went back and tried to stick to the basics, tried to stick to my routine and kick the goal, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be," McIntosh sasid.

"I was very disappointed ... it was Drewy's (Drew Petrie) 200th, a massive game ... and I guess you're a little bit embarrassed and a little bit disappointed that you haven't kicked the goal."

Hamish McIntosh hopes to put a horror 2011, when he struggled with injuries, behind him and start afresh in 2012.

"After the season I had last year I'm going into this season with quite a few nerves," McIntosh said.

"I'm excited about the challenges ahead and hopefully I'll get back to some of my best form from 2009 and before that. I'm looking forward to getting back out on the park and not being stuck in the rehab room, and getting a kick."

Hamish McIntosh is hopeful of playing a key role both in the ruck and up front for North this season after an injury-ravaged 2011.

"It was a long grind through last year, and now it's good to be back out there feeling reasonably fit again," McIntosh said.

"It was really frustrating last year. You never want to miss any footy, and I was out for 10 or 11 months in the end, so it was incredibly frustrating. But it's nice to come back and get some reward for my effort."

North Melbourne ruckman says he'll be staying at the Kangaroos despite speculation he could switch clubs in 2012.

"I've signed a contract and I'm very happy at North Melbourne, they've been fantastic to me … It's all been what the media said from the outside but it's more important to me what's been said on the inside," McIntosh said.

"Between (coach) Brad (Scott) and (football operations manager) Donald McDonald and all the football staff, I'm very happy how it's tracking … I love North Melbourne and I look forward to hopefully playing here for another four or five years.''

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has dismissed suggestions by former coach Dean Laidley that Hamish McIntosh will be traded at the end of the season.

"We've contracted him until 2013. We don't take those decisions lightly, so we're not only talking about keeping him we're putting our money where our mouth is," Scott said.

"So he's a North Melbourne player and he will be unless Hamish or his manager come to us and indicate otherwise."

North big man Hamish McIntosh is hoping to return to the field within a month following surgery on both achilles tendons.

"My Achilles both feel as good as they have for four or five years," McIntosh said.

"It's like having brand new Achilles. It was disappointing when I had to go in and get my left one done as well, but I'm glad I did now because it means neither will be an issue now. Now it's just a matter of getting my fitness levels and ball work up to play some good football."

North Melbourne is set to start the season with only one ruckman after Hamish McIntosh is booked for his second achilles operation in two months.

"My right side is feeling terrific and the procedure was successful, but I've had some soreness in the left one over the past few days and it needs the same sort of treatment," McIntosh said.

North is set to decide that ruckman Hamish McIntosh needs an operation to repair his right achilles.

"I've had needles and physiotherapy but nothing has worked to the extent we'd hoped for. If we opt for an operation, I really just want to have it as soon as possible so I can get back playing," McIntosh said.

"I've had a sore spot there for a number of years and it's something I've had to manage throughout my career. I received a knock on it in round 19 last year which aggravated it to the point where I was struggling to run."

Adelaide's Brad Moran is talking up the clash with former teammate Hamish McIntosh this weekend.

"I know Hamish pretty well and we've obviously played together. He's a good solid player and it will be a good challenge," Moran said.

"You have to be wary of Hamish around the ground because he can find the ball and use it.

"He's a big, tall ruckman and he has a lot of strength and reach, so we'll try and use athletic ability to try and beat him."

Hamish McIntosh has bounced back strongly in 2009 after a disappointing 2008.

"This year has been a big step forward after the events of last year, on and off the field," McIntosh said.

"I just wanted to focus on getting fit again in the off-season and pre-season and that's definitely helped my form carrying into the season."

Adam Simpson believes players such as Leigh Harding and Hamish McIntosh will have heavy hands in shaping North Melbourne's season.

Resurgent Kangaroos ruckman Hamish McIntosh had one more contested mark than Melbourne's entire 22 players at the MCG.

North Melbourne ruckman Hamish McIntosh says he holds no grudges after being offered as trade bait.

Hamish McIntosh, Brady Rawlings, Michael Firrito, Corey Jones and Daniel Pratt sign contract extensions with North Melbourne.

"We see it as an endorsement of what the club has been achieving over the last six months," chief executive Eugene Arocca said.

"Players who want to play at North Melbourne stay at North Melbourne and history has generally been that this is a great place to be. It's a unique club."

Several Kangaroos players including Aaron Edwards, Shannon Grant and Hamish McIntosh are involved in an altercation with security and police.

Edwards, in particular, is reported to have been significantly drunk and will face disciplinary action by the club.

The players were attending a concert at Scotchmans Hill winery at Drysdale, near Geelong.

Another Kangaroo, Matt Campbell, was charged with resisting arrest and being drunk in public in an unrelated incident.