Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead is back running barely a week after left knee surgery and confident it was only a minor setback in his preparation for next season.
Roughead, 30, completed the Hawks' 2.2km time trial on November 22, but hurt his knee two days later and club medical staff decided surgery was the best option.
The dual All Australian had the operation nine days ago and missed Hawthorn's training camp in New Zealand.
"We gave it a week, but there were some mechanical issues," Roughead said on Wednesday.
"They just said it was best off to go in and get it done now (and you) don't have to worry about going to camp and then come back and have it done.
"What are we? Eight, nine days post-surgery and I'm already out here running and doing weights while the boys get back tomorrow."
Roughead, who played all 22 matches and kicked 38 goals this year, said he would have missed up to three matches if the injury occurred during the season.
"We understood this time of year; it wasn't as if you were going to miss months of footy," he said.
"It was only a small clean up, so in and out in a day and I was back here (at Waverley Park) within two days doing rehab."
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