Woodward, just 19, was tracking toward a full recovery from surgery to repair the ACL in his knee, after suffering a rupture during the NAB Cup pre-season tournament last year.
The promising youngster, who was taken at pick 53 in the 2011 draft, was in tears as he left the training track on Monday morning.
The Hawks confirmed later into the afternoon that Woodward had torn the graft in his repaired knee, which will almost certainly mean another frustrating 12-month recovery period.
"Scans have confirmed midfielder Alex Woodward has torn the graft on the repaired anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee," the Hawks tweeted.
Woodward has yet to play a senior game for the Hawks, as he struggles to overcome his knee troubles.
The Hawks young gun was visibly distressed as he left the training track, according to reports.
Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said the young midfielder had completed his rehabilitation program and had been training with the main group.
“Alex has trained exceptionally well this pre-season and is understandably devastated by this setback,” Evans said.
“To suffer two knee injuries so early in his career is not only unlucky but also presents Alex with a huge challenge.
"We are certain Alex’s strong character will get him through this tough period and as a club we will offer both him and his family a great deal of support.”
“Alex approached his initial rehabilitation with absolute professionalism and enthusiasm and we expect he will take the same approach again this time.”
The heart-wrenching news was eerily similar to that of Fremantle gun youngster Anthony Morabito, who is coming to grips with his third knee reconstruction in just over two years.
Morabito suffered the shocking injury, a torn graft in the knee which had already been repaired twice, during a Fremantle pre-season training session last Wednesday.