Injured AFL star Rioli to miss 8-12 weeks

May 16, 2017 - 4:54 AM Hawthorn's injury crisis could give maligned forward Ty Vickery his first AFL match for more than a month.

The Hawks' hopes of salvaging their season have been dealt an immense blow, with Cyril Rioli, Ben Stratton and James Frawley all set for long injury layoffs.

Captain Jarryd Roughead said with Stratton and Frawley now out of action, the Hawks could throw Tim O'Brien into defence and promote Vickery to take over as a key forward option.

Vickery, recruited from Richmond late last year, has not been in the senior side since round three.

"Who knows with what happens this week ... O'Brien could go back, Vickery could come in, it's a match committee thing," Roughead said.

The Hawks skipper added that Vickery led Box Hill's goalkicking in the VFL and had dealt with his demotion in the right way.

"He doesn't have to do anything (to prove he is ready)... he's gone back and really contributed well," Roughead said.

"He's gone back with a great attitude."

Rioli will miss up to three months after scans confirmed he suffered a high-grade posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury in the Hawks' costly 38-point win over Brisbane.

Stratton will be out for at least a month with bone bruising in his knee, while fellow defender Frawley will be sidelined for at least two months because of turf toe.

"Cyril hurt his knee. It's a fairly significant PCL injury and he could miss anywhere from eight to 12 weeks," said Hawks performance manager Andrew Russell.

Forward Jack Fitzpatrick, who was knocked out during the clash with Brisbane, will also be assessed later this week before the Hawks face Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday.

"We had a challenging week," Russell said.

"I don't think we've ever finished a game and had no one to come on the ground."

Veteran Grant Birchall (knee) is still at least a fortnight away, while star recruit Jaeger O'Meara (knee) is running but yet to train.

Roughead said Hawthorn's depth of talent had been a strength for the past five or six years.

"You could look at it and say it's flattening for the group, or you could look at it how we have - it's just exciting for the group, knowing we have these blokes banging down the door, wanting to play senior footy," he said.

Despite their predicament, Roughead said there are positive signs given they have won three of their past four matches.

"There's been some very good improvement ... there's a lot of blue sky there, ready for us to latch onto," Roughead said.

Source: AAP