Jon Ceglar’s tilt at finals over after suffering ACL injury in Hawthorn’s loss to West Coast

HAWTHORN’S history-making tilt at a fourth-straight premiership has been dealt a blow with ruckman Jonathon Ceglar ruled out for the rest of the season.

HAWTHORN’S history-making tilt at a fourth-straight premiership has been dealt a blow with ruckman Jonathon Ceglar ruled out for the rest of the season.

Ceglar, 25, ruptured his ACL in Friday night’s loss to West Coast — the second casualty claimed by Subiaco Oval with West Coast counterpart Nic Naitanui suffering the same injury.

Ceglar had scans on Saturday after a red-eye flight back from Perth, confirming his and the club’s worst fears.

But in typical Hawthorn fashion, the Hawks are confident his absence will be ably covered.

“Jon’s been an important player for us and has really stepped up in the absence of David Hale this season,” Hawthorn football boss Chris Fagan said.

“It’s very disappointing for Jon, particularly so close to finals. He’s a resilient bloke and I have no doubt he will be determined to attack his rehab and get back to footy as soon as he can.

“While Jon plays an important role in the side we are confident others will take their opportunities and step up to cover his absence.”

Ceglar — who played 18 games this season — featured in Hawthorn’s 2014 finals series before being dropped for the Grand Final for Ben McEvoy.

Coach Alastair Clarkson feared the severity of the injury post-loss, and while the Hawks — who entered this round atop the ladder — could drop as low as fourth following today’s games, he is confident their premiership chances won’t be hampered.

Five-time flag winner Dermott Brereton — who played 189 games and kicked 427 goals for Hawthorn — believes the lead the Hawks had on the competition has shortened, but it has in no way dissipated.

“No (they haven’t lost their ability to win the flag),” he said on SEN yesterday.

“Are they as good as last year? No, but the competition has not got that much better behind them.

“They can win it.”

Premiership teams typically come from within the top four on the ladder, with Adelaide the last side to come from outside the top four, winning the flag in 1998 having finished the home and away season at fifth on the ladder.

Jonathon Ceglar is helped off the ground after hurting his knee. Picture: AAP

But Clarkson believes if it is ever going to happen, this is the year that it will given the “curve-ball” week off after next weekend’s Round 23.

“If there’s any year there’s a chance to come from outside of the top four, it’s this year, because of that very unique situation,” he said.

“The huge curve ball in this year’s finals series is that bye after Round 23.

“I don’t really know where we want to finish to be fair. But all I do know, in history, top four has been the best spot. So that’s what we’re going for.”

Premiership-winning defender David King isn’t so convinced, saying he is “losing a little bit of faith” in the triple-flag outfit.

“This is a different team to last year and the younger guys are now having to do more, they’re asked to deliver more and we saw them exposed a couple of times last night,” he said.

“The older guys who we’ve trusted for so long, there are some signs … you just see little things and I haven’t got the trust yet in some of those younger guys.

“(Shaun) Burgoyne had his poorest night (on Friday night) for a while.

“I wouldn’t be picking them for the flag whereas four weeks ago you would say ‘have a look at them, they’re going to do it again.”

But on the MCG in September is a whole different ball game, and said it’s one the Hawks have mastered.

“They’re unbeatable at the MCG,” King declared.

“They’ve just got to find a way again — as they did last year, (travelling) twice to Perth.

“They’re not going to get a tougher run than that.”