Hawks defender Stratton out for season

Hawthorn defender Ben Stratton will miss the rest of the AFL season with a knee injury.

A knee injury will see Hawthorn's Ben Stratton miss the rest of the AFL season. (AAP)

Ben Stratton's AFL season is over after the Hawthorn defender succumbed to a lingering knee injury.

Stratton was on the verge of returning from a seven-week lay-off due to bone bruising in Sunday's win over Collingwood.

But the 28-year-old was a match-day withdrawal, with the club revealing his injury has worsened.

"Unfortunately, he further irritated some cartilage in his knee joint," Hawks performance boss Andrew Russell told the club's website.

"He's out for the rest of the season to let that joint fully recover so that he's ready for next season."

Stratton has played 146 games since making his debut in 2011.

Meanwhile, fellow backman Grant Birchall has been ruled out of the Hawks' clash against Greater Western Sydney in Launceston on Saturday due to a knee injury.