Absolum injured his ankle early in last Saturday’s win over The Rock-Yerong Creek and the diagnosis is not good for the Hawks jet.

Absolum has suffered a high grade tear of the syndesmosis and will find out later this week if the injury requires surgery.

Even if he avoids going under the knife, Absolum will be out for a best case of eight to 10 weeks and has conceded his Farrer League season is over.

With the Hawks in fourth position on the Farrer League ladder and just one win plus percentage off top spot, Absolum is devastated by the season-ending injury.

“Absolutely, especially because for the first time in ages, on a personal note, I’ve been able to have a full pre-season,” Absolum said.

“It’s probably the best I’ve felt for years, the body had been feeling really good.

“It’s a kick in the guts really.”

It is not the first time Absolum has experienced problems with his right ankle. He missed the start of the 2016 season with a broken ankle, not long after an Achilles problem put a severe dent in his 2015 finals campaign.

The 29-year-old will now turn his focus to throwing his support behind his teammates.

“One hundred per cent. It might spur them on a bit,” he said.

“A few other boys will obviously have to step up and we’ll have to find someone else now to go through the midfield.

“A few boys will get a chance to put their hand up.”

Absolum knew as soon as he hurt his ankle last Saturday that it was serious. It got caught in an awkward position and was in immediate pain.

He awaits the results of one more scan to determine if surgery is required.

“Fingers crossed I don’t have to, but what do you do,” he said.

EWK will host Northern Jets at Gumly Oval on Saturday, followed by a crunch three-week period where they face the top three teams, Marrar, North Wagga and Temora, all away from home.

Meantime, skilful defender Jackson Sanbrook is the latest player added to Marrar’s injury list.

Sanbrook strained his pectoral muscle and did ligament damage and cracked a bone in his thumb in two separate incidents in last Saturday’s win over Charles Sturt University. 

He will miss about a month of football, after already missing three games earlier in the year with a hamstring injury.

Marrar will welcome back Jake Hindmarsh from concussion for Saturday’s showdown with third-placed Temora.

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