Fears have been allayed at the Western Bulldogs as scans revealed no anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in Sam Darcy's left kneeย during Sunday's win over St Kilda.
Darcy flew for a marking contest in the first term, but landed awkwardly, appearing to have hyper-extended his left knee.
The 21-year-old was immediately subbed from the game as a hush went through Marvel Stadium.
The club confirmed the positive injury news, but revealed that Darcy could still miss a few months of football.
"Scans have cleared the ACL of damage but confirmed that he has suffered a significant knee injury with an impaction fracture at the front of his knee and associated ligament damage at the back of his knee,"ย Chris Bell, Head of Sports Medicine at the Bulldogs, said.
Bulldogs superstar Sam Darcy has avoided a full ACL rupture ๐@Sammy__Edmund with the details.@WhateleySEN | #AFL pic.twitter.com/tgxl7WsocT
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) April 21, 2025
It is understood that he will still require knee surgery, but he still remains in the hunt to feature again in 2025.
The Western Bulldogs were bracing for the worst as club football manager Matthew Egan feared it was ACL-related.
Even coach Luke Beveridge said post-game that Darcy's teammates had begun getting around the emerging superstar.
"It's fair to say that we're a bit concerned," Beveridge said.
"I just said to the group, you know Sam comes in, he probably knows he might have a serious knee injury, but he's in the huddle, arms around his teammates, singing the song, just shows what sort of character he is.
"But you know if we lose him for a while, then we've just got to do it a certain way and look after him."
The Bulldogs are now without two of their brightest key forwards, with Darcy set to join Jamarra Ugle-Hagan on the sidelines, whose future continues to remain clouded.
Beveridge said he'll look at a vast amount of "role player options" to assist with filling the Darcy void.
Buku Khamis and James O'Donnell both spent time in the forward line alongside Aaron Naughton.
Rory Lobb has featured in the front half previously while untried swingman Jedd Busslinger and Jordan Croft could come into the mix.
Captain Marcus Bontempelli also might spend more time inside 50.
Beveridge's men squared the ledger at three wins and three losses, and will take on the Giants next week.
