Bendigo Advertiser | HUNTLY is hopeful recruit Luke Semmel's season isn't over before it has started.
Semmel injured a knee in the Hawks' last practice match against Cohuna.
"We're hoping it may only be six to eight weeks and he'll get back, but if it doesn't heal then he'll need a reconstruction," Huntly coach Jamie Hogan said on Wednesday.
"It's a bit of a kick in the guts at the moment, but hopefully, we'll get him back in the second half of the season and in the meantime someone else steps up and takes the opportunity."
Luke is one of three Semmel brothers at Huntly this year, along with 2013 Cheatley medallist Ryan Semmel and Jake Semmel.
Huntly this Saturday kicks off its 2015 campaign at home against Heathcote.
"It's obviously very exciting coming into round one," said Hogan, who has taken over from Stacy Fiske as coach of the Hawks.
"We've done the hard work during the pre-season and we're happy with how we're placed going into the first game this weekend.
"Apart from the hiccup with Luke, we'll be close to full strength, so we're looking forward to getting into it."
• Round one HDFL games this Saturday: Leitchville-Gunbower v Mount Pleasant; Huntly v Heathcote; Colbinabbin v White Hills; LBU v North Bendigo.
