Hawthorn confirms ACL rupture for Luke Breust after going down with a horror knee injury in the VFL

Luke Bruest’s career is over after the Hawks confirmed the worst after a horror knee injury in the VFL — ruining the chance of a fairytale comeback as Hawthorn chases a flag.

NCA. MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. September 12th, 2025 . AFL 1st Semi Final . Adelaide Crows vs Hawthorn at the Adelkaide Oval. Mitch Lewis of the Hawks kicks at goal during the 2nd qtr. . Picture: Michael Klein

Hawthorn champion Luke Breust’s career is over after being diagnosed with a dual ACL and MCL knee injury following a gruesome incident in the VFL.

Breust attempted to lay a tackle in Box Hill’s preliminary final loss to Footscray when his right leg became trapped under Bulldog Josh Kellett.

The leg bent outwards at the knee joint causing the traumatic injury to the 34-year-old.

The Hawthorn champion had already announced his retirement last month, but planned to play out the season.

He was a potential inclusion for the AFL preliminary final against Geelong, with Jack Ginnivan dealing with hamstring soreness.

Hawthorn is hopeful Ginnivan’s hamstring will improve this week after he gathered just eight disposals in the semi-final win over Adelaide, his worst return as a Hawk.

Spearhead Jack Gunston and rebounder Jarman Impey were managed in the final stages of the road win as the Hawks aim to soak up their seven day break before Friday’s blockbuster at the MCG against the Cats.

Forward Calsher Dear missed the semi-final due to his own hamstring injury and the Hawks are yet to put a timeline on his return.

Mitch Lewis had just four disposals replacing Dear and was subbed out of the comfortable win.

Breust played 308 games for Hawthorn as one of the modern game’s best small forwards, having come off the rookie list for his 2011 debut.

He played in three flags and booted 553 goals.

Hawks footy boss Rob McCartney described the Breust injury as “abrupt and unfortunate”.

“The club will be there to support Luke through every stage of his rehabilitation, just as Luke has been there to support so many others during his time in the brown and gold,” he said.

“Importantly, today we wrap our arms around our much loved Punky.”

String of injury concerns hover over Hawks’ blockbuster prelim

Hawthorn forward Jack Ginnivan will use up the seven-day break to recover for Friday’s preliminary final against Geelong as four hamstring injuries hover over the blockbuster.

Ginnivan spent large parts of the final term of the semi-final triumph over Adelaide on the bench, having only collected eight disposals in a subdued performance.

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell revealed after the match that the forward “only just got up for the game” due to a tight hamstring.

He played 78 per cent game time, right on his average for the season and well up on the 68 per cent he played last week, when he kicked three goals to get his side past GWS.

His eight disposals against the Crows was his lowest return in 47 games for Hawthorn.

Jack Ginnivan almost didn’t play the semi-final. Picture: Josie Hayden

Jack Gunston came off late after starring for the Hawks. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Star goalkicker Jack Gunston was pulled from the field late with hamstring soreness, and rebounder Jarman Impey was also hampered.

The Hawks were optimistic on Saturday all three players would be good to go to face rivals Geelong at the MCG on Friday.

Key forward Calsher Dear missed the semi-final with a minor hamstring tweak and the Hawks are yet to put a timeline on his return.

His replacement, Mitch Lewis, was subbed out of the game on Friday night with just four touches to his name.

The Cats, too, are dealing with a hamstring issue as ruck Rhys Stanley makes slow progress on his own recovery.

Stanley is seen as less likely to get up for the preliminary final but the Cats have not put a line through him.

Hawthorn midfielder Josh Ward said on Saturday morning Ginnivan and Gunston “seemed fine” as the team flew back from Adelaide.

Having come off a six-day break for the Adelaide trip, Mitchell said “we had a few guys who probably struggled to recover” but Ginnivan’s fitness would improve.

“He had a tight hammy, no damage to it but struggled to recover from last week,” Mitchell said post-match.

“He didn’t move as well as he would have liked tonight but the medical team tell me he will be fine and he will recover better this week than last week.”

Originally published as Hawthorn confirms ACL rupture for Luke Breust after going down with a horror knee injury in the VFL