HAWTHORN forward Cyril Rioli will have scans early this week to determine the extent of the hamstring injury he suffered against North Melbourne on Sunday, with the likelihood he will spend multiple weeks on the sidelines.
The 2012 All Australian strained his right hamstring and had to be helped from the ground in the last quarter of the Hawks' three-point win, after turning in an outstanding four-goal performance.
Coach Alastair Clarkson was quick to rule Rioli out of next week's clash with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
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"He's obviously hurt his hamstring; we'll get it scanned during the week and I daresay he'll miss a period of footy," Clarkson said post-match.
"Whether that's one week or more, we'll wait and see, but for all those Adelaide Crows supporters, I daresay they can be assured that he won't be playing next week."
Rioli suffered a series of hamstring injuries early in his career, prompting him to alter his running technique in mid-2011.
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He had been free of issues since then, up until Sunday's injury.
The 23-year-old had been brilliant up until he left the game, highlighting just how much he will be missed.
He won two free kicks with vice-like tackles in the first quarter and then, with the Kangaroos doing most of the attacking during the third quarter, turned the contest back in Hawthorn's direction with three quick goals.
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He added a fourth in the final quarter.
"We were lucky we had him in the first three-and-a-bit quarters, because we'd have been in a bit of trouble without him," Clarkson said. "He's a pretty special talent, and we needed some special things today."
While losing Rioli, the Hawks should regain Brad Sewell to face the Crows.
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The midfielder has missed three matches with what was initially thought to be a minor hamstring strain.
"Sewell was really close for this week," Clarkson said.
"That's the strange thing with some of these soft tissue injuries – we thought it was going to be a one-weeker, but you've just got to be patient with them.
"Sometimes they come good really quickly, but 'Sewelly' was just a lot slower than what we first anticipated.
"He'll be a good chance to play next week."
Clarkson said NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Jed Anderson, who has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury, was at a similar stage of recovery to Sewell, although he may be given an extra week to recover given his young age.
