Darren Minchington during Hawthorn's team photo shoot at the Ricoh Centre. Picture: AFL Photos

JUST a week after he was told his AFL career was over, small forward Darren Minchington has been handed yet another lifeline by Hawthorn.

Minchington will replace Will Golds for 2020 after the rookie midfielder ruptured his ACL in a practice match on the weekend and was placed on the Inactive Player List.

Minchington was cut by the Hawks at the end of 2019 after failing to add to the 28 games he played at St Kilda from 2013-2018. He joins them again via the Pre-Season Supplemental Selection Period (SSP).

It caps one of the most remarkable weeks for a fringe footballer in recent years.

Minchington was told last Wednesday his trial period – which included playing a Marsh Community Series match on February 29 – at the Hawks was over.

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He then watched on as ruckman Keegan Brooksby filled the final list spot on Friday that had been left open at last year's Rookie Draft.

Then, only days later, the 26-year-old Minchington received a call to return to Waverley Park after scans confirmed Golds would miss the entire season.

Minchington hasn't featured at AFL level since round 10, 2017, after battling knee and hip injuries at the Saints in 2018.

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Copy link Link copied to clipboard Marsh Highlights: Hawthorn v Melbourne The Hawks and Demons clash in the Marsh Community Series

He was cut by the Saints at the end of 2018 before arriving at the Hawks as a delisted free agent ahead of a 2019 season in which he was plagued by hamstring setbacks.

The SSP allows clubs to replaced vacant list spots or replace long-term injuries up until March 13 – just as Essendon (Henry Crauford) and Adelaide (Ayce Taylor) did earlier on Wednesday.