The 30-year-old was cut from the Giants’ list in October following 48 games in seven seasons, which included 35 games in his first two seasons as one of the club’s foundation players.

A succession of injuries including two knee reconstructions have kept Mohr to just five games in the past four seasons, but the Launceston premiership player is determined to get back on the horse after being selected with the rookie draft’s fourth-last pick.  

“At first, I was sitting on the fence, I didn’t know whether to hang the boots up or what not,” Mohr told RSN. 

“But I just really wanted to have another crack at it, I got my manager to get to work which he did and I’m so happy and pleased that I’ve got another opportunity to give it a crack.

“I feel I’ve still got so much more to give and I’m grateful to the Hawks who have given me the opportunity.”

Mohr has endured a rollercoaster couple of weeks after hearing of his delisting while holidaying in Europe.

The veteran was put through a medical screening and interview with the Hawks last Wednesday, and two days later was packing his bags to move to his second AFL club.

He arrived in Melbourne on Thursday ahead of pre-season training next week, and will stay with fellow key defender Kaiden Brand until he finds his own place to live.

“It was a bit emotional, it was hard leaving the Giants,” Mohr said. 

“I’ve spent the last seven years there and built so many great friendships.

“I was in Europe for five weeks and really not knowing what was going on ... it was hard to keep in contact with people while I was over there and I didn’t know whether I was going to be playing AFL again or whether I needed to start looking for a job.

“So the last couple of months have been pretty tough ... but when I found out the news I was going to the Hawks last Friday, it was a relief for sure.”

Mohr will provide handy depth for a defensive group which lost New Zealander Kurt Heatherley (delisted) in the off-season and largely relies on ageing duo James Frawley (30) and Ben Stratton (30 in March).

His first target will be to cross the 50-game mark, which looked like it would occur in his third season before a broken foot sparked a string of injuries. 

Coming off two games in 2018, Mohr said he had “no problems” with his knees and was feeling great heading into his eighth AFL season. 

“My first two seasons I think I played nearly 40 games and I was thinking I’m a 25-year-old and I might even get to 150 games here.

“But injury happens ... the worst one was I broke my foot in 2014 just before I did my first knee and that was the start of it I think, that was a real bad one.

“You just know that footy doesn’t last forever so you want to give it your all and you’ve got to keep going as much as you can so if you get given the opportunity you just got to take it.

“I just really want to prove a point to the rest of the AFL community and the world that I can still do it, and I think I can.”

Mohr was the only Tasmanian to find a new home in the rookie draft after teenage talents Tarryn Thomas, Chayce Jones and Fraser Turner were picked up in the national draft.