Breust's Hawthorn career ended in heartbreaking fashion

Luke Breust’s Hawthorn career has ended in heartbreaking fashion, with the small forward suffering a serious knee injury.

The Hawks confirmed on Sunday evening that the three-time premiership great sustained an ACL/MCL injury in Saturday's VFL Preliminary Final.

A Hawks statement read: Retiring Hawk Luke Breust has played his final game in the brown and gold after suffering a season-ending ACL/MCL knee injury.

Subsequent scans revealed the extent of the injury, drawing to a close one of the greatest careers in Hawthorn colours.

Executive General Manager of Football Rob McCartney paid tribute to the retiring champion.

“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,” McCartney said.

“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.”

Breust announced his retirement in mid-August and now it is confirmed that his career is over.

During the second quarter of that preliminary final against the Footscray Bulldogs, the 308-game player was in distress following a tackle on Footscray’s Josh Kellett, with the Bulldog falling on Breust’s knee.

Following the tackle, Breust struggled to move off the floor, with medical staff providing assistance to help him off.

It appears extremely unlikely that he would return should Box Hill make the Grand Final or for Hawthorn in their preliminary final against Geelong next week.

Breust will finish his career with the Hawks as having played the 3rd most games in club history alongside finishing in seventh for most goals (553).