HAWTHORN midfielder Conor Nash won't return in 2026 due to the lingering nerve issue in his neck that has sidelined him since round 11.
The Irishman will undergo surgery in Sydney in the coming days to relieve the inflammation around the nerve in his neck.
Nash had been eyeing a late season return ahead of September and had made improvements in recent weeks, but after more consultations with specialists, the club has decided this is the best course of action.
The complex situation has led Hawthorn's high performance and medical teams to investigate across the country and overseas.
The disc issue in his neck caused a nerve problem down his arm and prevented him from doing contact training until he regained his strength.
With only two rounds left in the home and away season ahead of up to five finals, time has run out for the 198cm midfielder to play again this year in a blow to Hawthorn's midfield.
The 28-year-old has played 130 games for the Hawks and established himself as one of the best Irishmen in the AFL in recent seasons.
Nash is expected to be fully fit by the start of the pre-season and resume his AFL career in 2027.