Young defender Denver Grainger-Barras is the latest casualty from Hawthorn’s disastrous AFL intra-club hit-out.

With fellow tall backman James Blanck already out for the season after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament during Thursday’s action, the Hawks have announced Grainger-Barras will also be sidelined with a turf toe injury.

Grainger-Barras will be out for 12-14 weeks following surgery.

Blanck, Grainger-Barras and Changkuoth Jiath — who is out of action for six to eight weeks with a hamstring injury — were all hurt during last week’s intra-club event at Waverley.

“Denver injured his toe in the intra-club last Thursday, with subsequent scans showing he has a significant turf toe injury,” club doctor Liam West said.

“Following discussions as a medical team, alongside consultation with several specialists across Australia, it was deemed that the best course of action for Denver was for him to undergo surgery to help return him to play this season and protect the health of his toe in the long term.

“Having successfully undergone this procedure we are expecting to see him return to play in 12-14 weeks.”

Denver-Barras has also played as a forward in his 28 games over three seasons at Hawthorn.

Darcy Fogarty joins Crows’ leadership group

Key forward Darcy Fogarty has been elevated to an expanded Adelaide leadership group which features three vice-captains.

The 24-year-old Fogarty joins the leadership group for the looming season along with Lachlan Murphy, Wayne Milera and Mitch Hinge.

The Crows will again be skippered by Jordan Dawson with a trio of vice-captains — Brodie Smith, Ben Keays and Reilly O’Brien.

Last season, Dawson was supported by Keays, Smith, O’Brien and Tom Doedee, who has now joined Brisbane.

Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said this year’s expanded group was aimed at fostering the club’s next generation of leaders.

“We’re fortunate to have stability in our core leaders, led by Jordan Dawson,” Nicks said on Tuesday.

“Our strong culture has enabled others to develop and they have done so in a significant way in recent years.

“The four new players to the group … have been standouts and bring their own skill sets and experiences to the group.

“We embrace that diversity in experience and thought which makes us stronger as a team.”

Adelaide’s entire playing staff cast votes to determine the leadership group, which has been ratified by coaches and the club’s board.

AAP