HAWTHORN Coach Alastair Clarkson says star half back Matt Suckling has “more than likely” suffered an anterior cruciate injury in Saturday’s NAB Cup loss to Richmond.

Suckling’s right knee buckled under his body as he tried to change direction in the third quarter of the NAB Cup match in Tasmania, before falling to the ground clutching his knee.

The defender was immediately taken into the rooms to be assessed, where he later emerged on crutches with an ice pack strapped to his knee.

Coach Clarkson says the outcome looks grim for the Hawks’ super boot.

“We’ll get that scanned on Monday but it doesn’t look good, I think it’s more than likely going to be an ACL,” Clarkson said in his post-match press conference.

“It’s a great disappointment for us, we’ve had five knee reconstructions in the last 12 months at our club now, but that’s the brutal nature of the game.”

The Hawks have already lost promising midfielder Alex Woodward to an anterior cruciate injury this year, as Brendan Whitecross and veteran Michael Osborne continue their rehabilitation from the same injury sustained last season.

The Hawks boss says the injury to Suckling once again underlines the brutal nature of the game of AFL.

“It just emphasises once again how important it is for us all to into serious consideration of the demands of this game on our players,” he said.

“It’s just a very demanding game and in my view, the most difficult ball sport to play in the world.

“Most knee reconstructions happen either in the NAB Cup series or the first five or six rounds of the season.

“You’ll get the occasional one after the bodies are conditioned and hardened to the match conditions but it’s a really precarious time for the players.

“Unfortunately you’re going to lose someone along the way, and we’ve probably lost ‘Suckers’ today and that’s disappointing.”