NOBLE Park resident and Hawthorn midfielder Alex Woodward will miss the entire 2012 AFL season after rupturing his right anterior cruciate ligament last Saturday.
He was injured while making a tackle in the Hawks’ 74-point win over Greater Western Sydney Giants at Aurora Stadium, Tasmania, in an NAB Cup match.
Woodward was drafted by the Hawks with pick 53 in the 2011 AFL draft and had impressed his teammates and coaches during his first preseason with the club.
Hawks football operations manager Mark Evans said Woodward would undergo a traditional reconstruction on his knee later this week.
“Alex’s work ethic has been fantastic and he’s found good form in the matches he’s played over preseason,” Evans said.
“He’s bitterly disappointed but we’re confident he has a promising career ahead of him. Alex’s attitude in his approach to dealing with the injury and the prospect of surgery and rehabilitation is first class.”
