Hawthorn premiership player Ben Stratton will miss the remainder of the 2017 season after he suffered a setback in his recovery on Saturday.
Stratton injured his knee against the Lions in round eight and was named to face Collingwood on Sunday, before pulling up sore in the Hawks' final session before the game.
Hawthorn Elite Performance Manager Andrew Russell said cartilage in Stratton's knee flared up and became the problem.
โHeโd had a really solid two weeks of training and then he pulled up with swelling the morning of the game,โ said Russell.
โWe had to pull him out which was disappointing, and now that swelling has continued and weโve unfortunately had to pull him out for the rest of the season to let that joint fully recover.โ
Grant Birchall has also been ruled out of Hawthorn's clash with the Giants this Saturday, after experiencing some irritation after two games back in the side.
โ[Birchโs] knee has swollen a little bit,โ said Russell.
โHe came back from the PCL, he was moving really well and we were really happy with the way it was going, but the knee is telling us that itโs a little bit irritated so heโs not going to play this week.โ
