Port Adelaide AFL star Hamish Hartlett will miss the rest of the season after scans confirmed he has torn his ACL in his right knee after a freak training incident on Thursday.
There was no one around Hartlett when he fell to the ground with the 27-year-old's knee just buckling after changing direction during a routine training drill.
It's a devastating blow for the tough hard-nut who is also a member of the Power's leadership group.
Vice-captain Ollie Wines told Radio Fiveaa the incident was innocuous.
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“There was no contact, just a change in direction during a regulation training drill,” Wines said.
“(Hartlett) would have done that a countless amount of times.
“There was a quick ball movement, Hamish was in the middle of the ground and changed direction - his knee just buckled.”
The Port star will have surgery on Friday.
It was only last week when Hartlett showed courage in a massive collision with Geelong's Patrick Dangerfield that saw the bloodied midfielder stretchered off before soon returning to the field.
The loss of Hartlett will leave a whole in the Power's midfield and off half-back with his run and carry with the footy making him a damaging asset through the middle of the ground for his side.
Hartlett has played 153 games for the club and kicked 73 goals.
It tops off a poor week for the Power, following the ongoing Sam Powell-Pepper investigation which saw the youngster suspended over an alleged bar incident.
Port Adelaide currently sit in ninth on the ladder with three wins from five games after a dramatic off-season list change.
They were the most active club in last season's free agency period, picking up a host of talent including the likes of Jack Watts, Tom Rockliff, Steven Motlop, Trent McKenzie and Jack Trengrove.
The Power will face North Melbourne on Saturday at Etihad Stadium.
