Trent Croad Biography

Trent Croad's lawyers say they will sue sections of the media after an article linked him to a peptides deal and an outlaw bikie gang.

"We have taken urgent high level advice in respect of the front page story published by The Age on 12 February 2013," a statement from Croad's management read.

"That legal advice has confirmed that Trent has been grossly defamed and the subject of reprehensible defamation.

"Trent will now sue all involved in The Publication and all repetitors of the false and defamatory allegations within this baseless story.

"On legal advice, Trent will not be able to add any further comment at this time."

Trent Croad is back in training with the A-grade amateur club representing his old school, De La Salle College.

I'm moving quite well, believe it or not. I'm scary fit, haven't missed a beat," he said.

"My old school has opened their arms up to me. I'm having such fun; it's like going back to school with all my old mates. I just rang (De La Salle coach) David Madigan and said 'G'day, it's Trent here, would you mind if I popped down to training?'"

Trent Croad announces his retirement after struggling with a foot injury that has troubled him for over a year.

Croad, however, says being part of the 2008 Hawthorn premiership-winning side made it all worthwhile.

"One hundred per cent, definitely - my last moment in football was grand final day, what a wonderful thing," Croad said.

"You can't plan that sort of thing; you can only dream of it. I said to the boys earlier, and Clarko reiterated it, that what broke me on the day will hopefully make me later on in life."

Trent Croad was a notable absentee from Hawhtorn's pre-Christmas training, suggesting the key backman is still some way from getting back to footy.

Hawk Trent Croad's future is in jeapordy after scans reveal that his injured foot has not improved as hoped despite undergoing an operation to fuse several bones.

"It's certainly not positive news, but we expected it was going to be slow healing and the scans would show it is going to be slow healing," Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said.

"It was a serious injury from the start. The operation itself is a big thing to go through and there are a lot of things he is going to have to contemplate along the road of his rehabilitation. None of it is going to go quickly for him."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says there will be no lack of trying to have key defender Trent Croad recover from a broken foot before next season.

"There will be no lack of trying on his behalf or our club's to try and get him right. If we do, we consider it a significant bonus but we've got our fingers crossed he will get through this recovery period reasonably healthy," Clarkson said.

Hawthorn defender Trent Croad says he is healthy again and hopes to rebuild his career in 2010.

"I'm pain-free and good to go," Croad said.

"I've just got to make a decision. It was a pretty bad injury so it's just a matter of time."

Hawthorn defender Trent Croad is on the verge of signing a new one-year deal and is looking forward to playing again next year in 2010 after missing out on the entire 2009 season with a serious foot injury.

"Everything's good and underway there, so over the next few weeks everything will be sorted," he said.

"The surgery was good and everything is coming together nicely," Croad said.

Trent Croad expresses to Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson his optimism in returning from a career-threatening injury.

"It's always pleasing to get that type of optimistic view from a guy who has become a pretty important player to our structure," Clarkson said.

"Given the seriousness of the injury and the size of the man and the fact it is a foot injury, there are no guarantees but he's very optimistic and so is the surgeon that he'll return to play AFL footy and we can only hope that'll be the case next year."

Trent Croad's future remains undertain due to a persistent and career-threatening foot injury.

"Obviously it takes a little bit of time to process that from both his point of view and from a medical point of view, what sort of surgery can be done and what it's going to do for his footy," Hawks skipper Sam Mitchell said.

"No decision has been made, but there's a lot of information that's been collated now and both he and the club are going to work out what the best thing to do is now."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson admits it would be "foolish" to rush Trent Croad back into the senior side without a stint in the VFL.

"Our senior side certainly needs his presence down there but it would be foolish perhaps to put him there straight away," Clarkson said.

"But we'll just have to wait and see what players are available for us at the time he's available to play."

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson says Trent Croad's return may be as little as two weeks away.

"It could be two weeks, it could be six weeks - that will be determined by how well he pulls up from his training sessions in the next couple of weeks," Clarkson said.

"But I've got no idea - it's been nearly 12 months since he's played.

"He'll step up his training, he has done over the last two weeks - he's done about four or five skills sessions now with the players, and he'll step it up again next week.

Hawthorn still unwilling to predict whether defender Trent Croad will return this season with just 10 rounds remaining.

"We would expect him to play at this stage, but we still need to be mindful of the fact that he's got to get through another couple of weeks of skills training before we can make that prediction," Football manager Mark Evans said.

"He's back in skills training, which is fantastic. He's completed three pretty good weeks of training now.

"He still has to tick some boxes in terms of the intensity to play and prepare himself for the physical side of contact football but that should take place sometime in the next three to four weeks."

Hawthorn remains confident that Trent Croad will play a part in its flag defence, with the injured defender resuming low-level training this week.

"Croady has worked hard to overcome his foot injury and this is another big step in his long rehab," Hawks assistant coach John Barker said.

"We are hopeful he will play a role in the second half of the year at some stage. "

Hawthorn's defence is under siege with Trent Croad having ankle surgery.

Croad's season was already hampered by surgery to the left foot he injured in last year's Grand Final.

Undermanned and winless after Saturday night's 38-point loss to Sydney at ANZ Stadium, the Hawks will be without Croad until at least the second half of the season.

Croad, who had bone spurs removed from his left ankle late last week, must be in doubt for most of the season.

Luke Hodge, Lance Franklin and Trent Croad among nine Hawthorn premiership players to miss pre-season opener.

Hawthorn's Trent Croad says he is supremely confident of a full return to football but yesterday warned fans they must be patient.

Hawthorn premiership defender Trent Croad has suffered a setback in his recovery from a broken foot.