The AFL season could be over for Hawthorn star Cyril Rioli after his latest hamstring injury.

Scans on Sunday showed the injury is worse than expected and the brilliant utility will be out of action for eight to 10 weeks.

While the Hawks will go deep into the finals and expect Rioli to play again this season, he will not be in action again until late August at the earliest.

Rioli suffered the seventh hamstring injury of his career during Saturday’s win over Gold Coast in Launceston.

“Unfortunately scans have indicated that Cyril has sustained a hamstring tendon injury, which is more serious than we first anticipated,” Hawks football operations manager Chris Fagan said on the club website.

“While he is understandably disappointed to be missing some footy, he is eager to begin his rehab with the aim of making a valuable contribution to the side again this season.”

Fagan also confirmed that Rioli would not need surgery.

Rioli posted on Twitter after Saturday’s match: “yep that sniper got me again”.