UPDATE: Star Hawthorn forward Jarryd Roughead could be back playing within 2-3 weeks after having a melanoma removed from his lip on Wednesday.
Roughead had recently spotted a lesion on his lip which had not cleared up. He informed the club's doctors late last week. He was then advised to see a skin specialist. Test results came back positive for a melanoma on Tuesday.
Roughead, 28, a triple-premiership player with the Hawks is waiting for the results of further pathology tests to determine if any further action needs to be taken.
Players were told of the news at an 8am meeting on Thursday at the club's Waverley Park base.
The club's coaches and board were subsequently made aware.
Hawks general manager of football operations Chris Fagan said Roughead was doing well.
"He sent a photo around of himself last night with a bit of a thumbs up," Fagan told Fairfax Media on Thursday morning.
"Obviously when these things happen it's a bit worrying, but he handled the whole thing well and has had good support around him from family, friends and the footy club."
The Hawks are unsure how long Roughead will be out of football, with Fagan emphasising that "our only concern has been his wellbeing and his health".
Later Fagan told a media conference that doctors were pleased with Roughead's surgery, but the premiership star wasn't out of the woods just yet.
"What we do know is that there is still a few more tests that they need to do on the skin around the lip," Fagan told reporters at Waverley Park on Thursday.
"We'll probably know those results mid to late next week.
"Hopefully they'll be all clear. If they are then it's just a matter of waiting for Jarryd's lip, where he's had the operation he's got a decent scar there, for that to clear up.
"If everything goes well he might be available in two or three weeks time."
The best case scenario would see Roughead resume non-contact training as early as next week.
Roughead had been due to play on Friday night against Collingwood at the MCG. As recently as Wednesday, Magpies coach Nathan Buckley questioned whether Roughead was the most dominant big man of the decade. After an indifferent last month, Roughead had 29 disposals and kicked a goal in an outstanding performance against Essendon last Saturday at the MCG. Hawthorn moved into the top-four at the expense of the Pies after beating the Bombers.
Fagan said that Tim O'Brien, Ryan Schoenmakers and Matt Spangher were in the mix to replace Roughead in the Hawks' side.
The 2013 Coleman Medallist has played 219 games since being drafted with pick No. 2 in the 2004 draft.
The Hawks are no strangers to overcoming obstacles on their way to premiership success.
Last year, they managed to win their second consecutive flag despite the five-week mid-season absence of Clarkson, who was suffering from Guillain-Barré syndrome. Assistant coach Brendon Bolton filled in during Clarkson's leave, winning all five games as caretaker.
Fagan said the club would take confidence from that experience.
"We're certainly a group that's accustomed to coping with some adversity. We'll just adapt like we usually do."
With Ronny Lerner
