HAWTHORN premiership ruckman Max Bailey will consult a surgeon in the coming days to see if his right knee can be improved to allow him to continue his career.
The 27-year-old's future is up in the air with the loss of cartilage in his right knee following two knee reconstructions that severely hampered him this season.
He was managed through games and was often subbed off, and struggled at times to train.
He said he would know in the next few days if further surgery could ease the discomfort he experienced this year and allow him to add to his 43 AFL games in 2014.
"If there's hope that they can do something with my knee that will help make it better, that gives me the mental edge to think I can do it again," Bailey told AFL.com.au.
"If it's going to be worse, then I probably can't do another year like I did this year.
"I'm definitely hopeful they can do something that will help it.
"It's not major [surgery]; it's just the cartilage and maybe a clean up and a bit of a play around in there will be able to ease the pain a bit."
Bailey played just six games in his first five seasons at Hawthorn after needing two reconstructions on his right knee and one on his left.
Then, a wrist injury last year kept him to just two games in 2012.
He played 19 this year, including the Hawks' Grand Final triumph over Fremantle, but had to be carefully managed.
"That's probably been the toughest part this year; not so much the physical part but the actual struggling to train and trying to get through games," he said.
"The club has been amazing in helping me manage that and tailoring a good program to allow me to get there.
"At the end of the day, I sat down with [head fitness coach] Andrew Russell and 'Clarko' (coach Alastair Clarkson) and they said, 'This is how we want to do it', and that's how it panned out, so I'm just stoked that it did."
The Hawks have already lost Brent Guerra to retirement and Lance Franklin is set to become a Sydney Swan on an enormous nine-year deal.
They have also delisted rookies Andrew Boseley and Amos Frank.
Bailey said his future would be decided by himself and the club after they had more information about how his troublesome right knee could be treated.
He expected a call to be made in the next few days so the Hawks could make appropriate list management decisions.
"I've got a bit of time to decide what to do and I'd really love to play on but I've got to see the surgeon and really figure it out, whether I can go on," he said.
"I'm hopeful that's the case but I'll wait and see until I get the all clear.
"I'm 27 so hopefully I've got a few more years left in me."
