Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli will miss at least the next six weeks after suffering a "complex calf" injury in Thursday's Community Series clash against Hawthorn.
Bontempelli's evening was over midway through the opening term of the match in Launceston, with the Dogs star having recorded the one disposal before seeking medical attention on the sidelines.
The six-time Charles Sutton Medal winner ventured down to the rooms for further attention on what has been revealed as "low-level calf tightness".
The Dogs made the cautious call not to utilise their skipper for the remainder of the match.
The club has revealed the disheartening news, with Head of Sports Medicine Chris Bell explaining the process from here.
"While the Club was optimistic of a positive result overnight, scans have revealed a complex injury with tendon involvement," Bell said.
"Unfortunately, the structures involved with this particular injury are prone to having recurrent issues so we will need to follow a conservative management timeline to give Marcus the best chance of a successful season."
Young utility Laitham Vandermeer was also ruled out of the contest midway through, having suffered a concussion that will place him in mandatory protocols for 12 days.
Any potential setback to the pair's selection chances would add another blow to the Dogs' plans to start the season, with Adam Treloar (calf), Cody Weightman (knee), Liam Jones (hamstring), Jason Johannisen (hamstring) and Anthony Scott (knee) all set to miss the opening rounds.
Star forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is also expected to miss the start of the season for personal reasons, while Bailey Dale (quad) and Ed Richards (calf) are in a race against the clock to be fit in time for to face the Roos.
Dale will get some much-needed match fitness when he lines up in the VFL next weekend.
The Dogs' season opener is scheduled for Saturday, March 15 at Marvel Stadium, with games against Collingwood, Carlton, Fremantle and Brisbane to follow.
