HAWTHORN could be without star playmaker Cyril Rioli for 8-10 weeks after his hamstring injury was found to be worse than first thought.

In yet another injury blow for the reigning premier, Rioli hurt his left hamstring in the last quarter of the Hawks’ 53-point win over Gold Coast in Launceston.

Rioli underwent scans on Sunday and the club confirmed the injury is more serious than expected.

The Hawks said scans had indicated the hamstring strain involves the tendon.

Yep that sniper got me again! — Cyril Rioli (@CyrilRioli33) June 28, 2014

Hawthorn general manager of football operations Chris Fagan said Rioli would not require surgery.

“Unfortunately scans have indicated that Cyril has sustained a hamstring tendon injury, which is more serious than we first anticipated,” Fagan told the club website.

“He will be out of action for 8-10 weeks.

“While he is understandably disappointed to be missing some footy, he is eager to begin his rehab with the aim of making a valuable contribution to the side again this season,” he said.

Some good news for Hawthorn could be the imminant return of coach Alastair Clarkson

Interim coach Brendan Bolton said Clakrson’s return was slated for “possibly in the next week or so”.

Speaking after the win Rioli said the injury felt similar to the hamstring tear he sustained against Sydney in Round 8.

Rioli missed three matches with that injury and he expects to spend a similar amount of time on the sidelines.

“The leg is feeling pretty sore, after I iced up it seized up a bit, but I’m definitely going to ice up over the next few days and respect the injury and hopefully I’ll be back after the split round (Round 19), which would be good,” he said.

media_camera Cyril Rioli on the deck after injuring his hamstring. Picture: Colleen Petch

“I’ll see how it goes over the next few days, but extra physio, rehab work and probably a bit more time in the pool, which im not that excited about, but it’s a part of getting back into training and i’ll resspect my injury and definitely look after it.”

Captain Luke Hodge said Rioli “was positive after the game and he said it didn’t feel major”.

“He was up and about after the game, talking to the boys, which is probably different to how he was feeling after the previous two,” Hodge said.

“But it’s like the other injuries, we’ll get someone else to do the role that Junior does.”

Bolton said it was disappointing Rioli had hurt the same muscle that he injured in the Round 8 loss to Sydney, which cost the Hawk three weeks on the sidelines.

“I don’t think it’s a bad hamstring but he just runs so quick doesn’t he?” Bolton said.

“I don’t know exactly how long it will be but I would think it would be somewhere around one month but that’s only guessing.

media_camera Rioli makes his way off Aurora Stadium. Picture: Colleen Petch

“He’ll knuckle down on his rehab and come back as quickly as possible, as I said I don’t think it’s as significant hamstring, like a Sam Mitchell had.”

Rioli will have scans Monday as the Hawks prepare for a short turnaround leading into Friday night’s clash against another top-four aspirant, North Melbourne.

Hawthorn’s superstar onball contingent led the victory against the Suns but the club will continue to have a welcome ruck dilemma with back-up big man Jonathon Ceglar among the Hawks’ best players in wet conditions.

Ceglar’s continued form has kept first-choice ruckman Ben McEvoy in the VFL.

“He (Ceglar) is going really well, selection says at the moment we are backing Cegs in but it was a line ball decision because Macca played a good game at Box Hill,” Bolton said.

“But pressure is what we want. We don’t want anxiety or worry and we don’t want complacency and they’re both things that are at extremes.

“We just want the mindset to be determined to fill their role. Looking at the stats we have a lot of players over 15 possessions.”

media_camera Hawks coach Brendon Bolton joins in the club song. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

LIGHTNING BOLTS

BRENDON Bolton maintained his perfect record with a fifth win as Hawthorn’s stand-in coach.

Rd Opp Result

11 GWS W7

12 West Coast W44

13 Carlton W28

14 C’wood W29

15 Gold Coast W59