One of Cyril Rioli’s greatest AFL attributes is proving his biggest problem.

Coach Alastair Clarkson has pointed to Rioli’s blinding speed as Hawthorn try to end his shocking run of hamstring injuries.

Rioli suffered the injury for the seventh time in Saturday’s win over Gold Coast and this time it is particularly bad.

He has damaged a tendon and will be out of action for eight to 10 weeks, potentially ending his season.

“We’re talking about a lad who can run nearly at Olympic or Commonwealth Games speed – he’s just electrifying,” Clarkson said.

“It’s okay if it’s just straight-line and staying upright.

“But some of the mechanisms of running at speed (and) trying to pick up a ball or kick it off the ground … then for someone like Cyril, that’s causing him lots of implications.”

Clarkson pointed to a moment during the round-14 win over Collingwood, when Rioli caught captain Luke Hodge off guard with how fast he was able to run past him.

“The strange thing about Cyril is he’s just quick,” Clarkson said.

“He will make a full recovery, but we’ve just got to understand the speed at which he can run and try to educate him on the areas of the game where he’s most at risk.

“That’s running at full speed, trying to pick up a ground-level ball.

“How we coach that … we’ll just have to wait and see.

“We live and learn as we go through these things and hopefully we’re getting closer to finding the right solution.”

Hodge is confident that whenever Rioli returns – even if that is during the finals series – he will be an asset to the Hawks.

“If anyone can have an impact coming back in, it’s Cyril,” Hodge said.

“He can do some amazing things.

“When he first comes back in, he does some outstanding things and plays great football.”