Hawthorn utility left shattered by second ACL tear.
For the second year in a row Brendan Whitecross will be sitting in the stands at the MCG when he should be out in the middle amongst the AFL grand final.
Hawthorn confirmed that scans showed Whitecross has torn his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the second time and would miss the final and much of the 2014 season.
It is a shattering blow for the Hawks utility who suffered the injury in the third quarter in his side’s thrilling win over Geelong in the preliminary final
The Hawks also have injury concerns with Lance Franklin (elbow), Brent Guerra (calf) and Paul Puopolo (ankle).
Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson described the game against the Cats as one that ebbed and flowed and both sides had their moments in a contest that he described as a bruising affair.
Asked about the Kennett Curse, Clarkson said it was nice and romantic but it wasn’t spoken about because Geelong was just an opponent who the Hawks had to defeat to get into the Grand Final.
He said it had always been that way in contests between the two clubs.
Hawthorn now face the winner of the game between the Fremantle Dockers and the reigning premiers Sydney Swans, who play in the second preliminary final at Patersons Stadium today.
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