Rising star Sam Hunt suffered a set-back to his season this week after tearing a cartilage in his left knee. Hunt had an arthroscope on his knee yesterday at Vimy House in Kew and is likely to miss at least the next five weeks. Hunt had soreness in his knee for the past couple of weeks and has been strapping it at training and for matches. After last weekend's VFL match against the Coburg Tigers, he could hardly walk and scans on Monday revealed the tear.""I have been really focussed on my footy and was aiming to play in the seniors this year - that is why it is so disappointing,"" Hunt said.

Hunt will be aiming to maintain his fitness levels while he is sidelined. ""I haven't stopped training since the Grand Final last year and am as fit as I have ever been."" Hunt will sit down with Essendon fitness coach John Quinn on Sunday and work out a training program for the next few weeks. Hunt says he hopes to continue doing weights and grinder work and then eventually move back into walking, jogging and finally running. Hunt turns 19 on Saturday and unfortunately this was not the birthday present he hoped for.