Hawthorn have struck a major hurdle with three key players ruled out for an extended period.
The news that superstar Tiwi Islander Cyril Rioli will miss up to 12 weeks with a posterior cruciate injury to his left knee was further exacerbated on Tuesday with Ben Stratton likely to be unavailable till Round 13 and James Frawley expected to miss at least a couple of months with a toe injury.
Hawks skipper Jarryd Roughead (pictured) says while it’s a blow to lose the vital trio just as the club seemed to be getting its season back on track, there’s no shortage of talent at Hawks feeder club Box Hill beating down the door for a start in the AFL.
