AFL fans and commentators are sending messages of support to Luke Breust after confirmation the Hawthorn veteran’s career has been ended by a knee injury. The triple-premiership forward ruptured his ACL after his right knee was twisted awkwardly in a tackle during Box Hill’s preliminary final loss to Footscray in the VFL on Saturday.
Breust was in agony on the ground and had to be taken off under the assistance of trainers. The Hawks announced on Sunday that Breust tore both his ACL and MCL after scans confirmed the devastating blow.
Luke Breust was a chance to return to Sam Mitchell’s Hawthorn side for the AFL preliminary final. Image: Channel 7/Getty
It means the retiring 34-year-old’s career has ended in heartbreaking circumstances. Breust played 308 AFL games for Hawthorn, and despite only eight appearances at the top level this year he was an outside chance to win a recall for the preliminary final blockbuster against Geelong.
Sam Mitchell’s side will take on arch-rivals Geelong at the MCG on Friday night for a spot in the grand final. Breust had been used as the substitute at AFL level five times this year, including in the final three games of the regular season.
He was dropped for the finals, but would have come into calculations for the prelim side. The 34-year-old announced in August that he’s retiring at season’s end, finishing with 553 goals and three premierships (2013, 2014 and 2015). He’s is a five-time leading goal-kicker at Hawthorn and was named to the All-Australian team in 2014 and 2018.
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Hawthorn’s football boss Rob McCartney said in a statement on Sunday: “Despite the abrupt and unfortunate ending, Luke should be enormously proud of committing himself completely across his incredible career, on and off the field, right up until his final moment. Having played his 308th game in the brown and gold just a few weeks ago, Luke’s legacy as one of our club’s true greats has been etched into the history books, sitting behind only Michael Tuck and Leigh Matthews for most games played at Hawthorn.
“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. Importantly, today we wrap our arms around our much loved ‘Punky’.”
Luke Breust and James Sicily after Hawthorn’s win over Melbourne in Round 23. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Luke Breust was a chance to play prelim final for Hawthorn
Meanwhile, the Hawks are sweating on small forward Jack Ginnivan‘s availability for the prelim because of a tight hamstring. If Ginnivan is unavailable to face the Cats it could have opened the door for Breust to return.
Star forward Jack Gunston is also battling hamstring soreness, while defender Jarman Impey was also hampered against Adelaide on Friday night. Key forward Calsher Dear missed the semi-final because of a hamstring strain, while Dear’s replacement Mitch Lewis had little impact against the Crows and was substituted out of the game.
Fans flooded social media with well-wishes for Breust after his career-ending injury was confirmed. One person wrote: “Sad ending to a brilliant career. One of the best to ever do it.” Another commented: “Great career, well done! Harsh way to end it.”
Lachie Neale a chance to return if Brisbane make grand final
Brisbane and Collingwood will battle in the other preliminary final. Lachie Neale missed the Lions’ 53-point semi-final thrashing of Gold Coast on Saturday night, but rates himself a “50 per cent” chance to return from a calf injury in the AFL grand final if the Lions can topple the Magpies and qualify. The season of the two-time Brownlow winner appeared over when he limped off in the first week of the finals, but he’s not ruling out a miraculous return if Brisbane make the decider.
with AAP