WESTERN Bulldogs rising star Clay Smith won’t play against Hawthorn on Saturday and will miss the remainder of the 2013 season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday’s loss to Essendon.

Smith landed awkwardly on the boundary line when attempting to spoil Essendon’s Dyson Heppell, and was helped from the field by Bulldogs trainers, not to return.

Scans on Monday confirmed the club medical staff’s fears, with the youngster to undergo a traditional knee reconstruction.

Smith is one of the Bulldogs’  most promising youngsters who has made a name for himself in his short, 30 game career as an uncompromising player who loves to tackle hard and win the hard footy.

He is also capable of hurting teams on the outside with his skills and ability to hit the scoreboard, having kicked 10 goals this season for a career total of 16.

He starred in his debut game in Round 1 last season, booting four goals before being subbed out at three-quarter time due to severe cramp.

He played 16 matches in his debut season and has played every game this season.

His best game this year was a 26 disposals, four tackle and two goal performance against West Coast in Round 6.

He also gathered 21 touches and laid seven tackles against Port Adelaide in Round 10.

He averages 15.1 disposals and four tackles this year.