HAWTHORN has been decimated on the injury front in one fell swoop with three key players all facing significant time on the sidelines. 

Champion small forward Cyril Rioli suffered a significant PCL injury against the Brisbane Lions last Saturday and is facing 8-12 weeks out of the side. 

Defender Ben Stratton suffered bone bruising in his knee and won’t return until at least after Hawthorn’s bye in round 13, while full-back James Frawley has turf toe and will miss at least eight weeks.

Forward Jack Fitzpatrick has concussion and faces a test ahead of Saturday night’s MCG clash with Collingwood.

Hawthorn elite performance manager Andrew Russell told hawthornfc.com.au it was the first time in his 13 years at the club that the team had finished a match with no available players on the bench. 

"It was a challenging week," he said.

The Rioli injury is particularly devastating, and depending on his recovery and how the Hawks are sitting later in the season there is every possibility the club will place him in cotton wool until next year.

The Stratton and Frawley injuries leave huge holes in the Hawk backline, especially with Grant Birchall still out of the side. Stratton missed most of 2011 with a knee injury, while Frawley’s injury also will take significant time to heal.

Concerning for Fitzpatrick is that he suffered a bout of concussion last season and that it took nine weeks before he received the all clear to resume playing. 

Hawthorn’s playing list is now close to breaking point with Birchall at least three weeks away after his knee injury and Jaeger O’Meara’s conditioning block, while going well, not yet including a return to full training. Midfielder Jonathan O’Rourke hurt his hamstring last week and is out for up to 10 more weeks. 

The Hawks are 3-5 and 14th on the ladder and will get to look at plenty of their youth over the next three months. Expect the likes of Kaiden Brand, Kurt Heatherley and Kade Stewart to be given more opportunity, while experienced players such as Brendan Whitecross, Ty Vickery, Taylor Duryea and Ryan Schoenmakers will also get fresh opportunities at AFL level. 

Hawthorn plays Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night, having not lost to the Magpies since the 2011 preliminary final.