EWK defender Brenton Roberts has been ruled out of Saturday week’s Farrer League grand final due to a shoulder injury.

Roberts hurt his shoulder in the Hawks second semi-final win over Coleambally last Sunday and scans this week confirmed his worst fears.

The 32-year-old has snapped the tendon in his AC joint and will undergo surgery on Monday.

Roberts, who is a Hawks junior, is devastated to miss the grand final.

“I’m obviously gutted to miss it, but that’s the way it goes,” Roberts said.

“I’ve just got to look at the positive side of things. Hopefully the club can get the premiership we’ve been trying to get for a while.

“Hopefully the boys get it done. It’s a club thing, not a one-man band.”

Roberts made his senior debut for EWK in 2004 and has been one of the Hawks’ best over the past 12 years, winning two club best and fairest awards during his 224-game career.

He has not missed a game this season.

EWK coach Gavin McMahon said Roberts will be apart of the Hawks’ premiership tilt, regardless of him not being out on the field playing.

“It’s obviously a shame for him,” McMahon said.

“While he won’t run out with us, he’s still a big part of it.

“He has only missed two games in three years, his ability to play with knocks and niggles is one of the best I’ve seen. He just says ‘I’ll be right Gav’ and you know he will be.

“That’s footy though, there is no guarantees and no fairytales.”

Roberts has full faith in his teammates ability to get the job done at Robertson Oval on Saturday week.

“I think with the side we’ve got, if our attitude is right then we should be every chance,” Roberts said.

“But finals footy is a different scenario.”

The loss of Roberts means the Hawks will need to bring a player in for the grand final with Kade Rowbotham, James Hodges, Blake Aichinger and Scott Burge among those most likely.