HAWTHORN's quest for a record-equalling fourth consecutive premiership has suffered another blow with captain Luke Hodge set to miss four to six weeks with a knee injury.
The Hawks announced on Tuesday that scans had revealed Hodge had suffered a lateral meniscus tear in the first quarter of Saturday's loss to Greater Western Sydney.
AFL.com.au understands the 31-year-old will undergo surgery on Tuesday afternoon.
Hodge was well below his best in the 75-point thumping Hawthorn received from the Giants at Spotless Stadium, but was far from the only Hawk who struggled in the club's biggest loss for seven years.
The four-time premiership player also missed two rounds after breaking his arm in Hawthorn's round one loss to Geelong.
Match preview: Richmond v Hawthorn
The Hawks have not had a good run with injury in 2016.
Their biggest setback came on the eve of the season when spearhead Jarryd Roughead was ruled out of the first half of the year after undergoing a posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
Liam Shiels and Bradley Hill also missed the start of the season with broken wrists, returning in rounds three and five respectively.
More to come
