Hawthorn has suffered a serious double injury blow with star midfielder Brad Sewell and Simon Taylor both set to miss the start of the home-and-away season.
Sewell sustained a broken collar bone in a practice match against North Melbourne in Ballarat on Saturday while Taylor broke his leg, further stretching Hawthorn's already devastated big man stocks.
Sewell is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season but the news is worse for ruckman Taylor who will be sidelined for the next four months.
Taylor now joins Max Bailey (knee) on the sidelines after Robert Campbell retired at the end of last season.
The Hawks' other recognised senior ruckman Brent Renouf only just returned to competitive action against the Kangaroos on Saturday after recovering from serious burns to his arm suffered when he fell into a beach bonfire in the off-season.
"He (Sewell) will have further assessment with a specialist later this week, and we will know more then, but he will miss the first few weeks of the season," Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said.
"Simon underwent surgery this morning to have a plate inserted to repair a fractured fibula."
"Doctors have advised it will be two months until Simon can resume activity and it will be around four months until he will be available to play again."
Hawthorn's final practice match will be against the Brisbane Lions in Southport on Friday before it meets Melbourne in Round 1 at the MCG on March 27.
Meanwhile, Melbourne defender Daniel Bell isn't expected to be available for the Demons until Round 6 after injuring his AC joint in a practice match against Adelaide on Saturday.
Bell will require surgery to have it repaired.
His team-mate Liam Jurrah is also expected to spend considerable time on the sidelines after he dislocated his shoulder against the Crows.
Jurrah had scans on the shoulder on Sunday but the full extent of the injury won't be known for a few days.