Luckless Western Bulldogs midfielder Riley Garcia will miss 12-14 weeks with a serious hamstring injury.
Garcia suffered the injury last week and has undergone surgery as the list of soft-tissue setbacks across the AFL mounts this pre-season.
Although he was unlikely to be a best 23 player for Opening Round, Garcia is an emerging depth player and considered a potential future replacement for Tom Liberatore.
Garcia, 25 on Friday, has played 34 games at the Dogs in an injury-interrupted career.
An incident in match simulation last year forced him on to the sidelines for three months. He suffered cartilage damage to his knee after twisting awkwardly in a tackle.
