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Updated April 17, 2026 — 9:11pm,first published 8:37pm
Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy has suffered a knee injury at GMHBA Stadium against the Cats in a devastating blow to the club’s premiership hopes.
The giant forward fell to the ground clutching his left knee as he led out towards the ball during the second quarter. He didn’t make contact with anyone else in the process.
Bulldogs football manager Matthew Egan told Fox Footy at half-time that they would wait for scans on Saturday before declaring the extent of the injury.
“The mechanism didn’t look great, but we just can’t confirm everything,” Egan said.
“Unfortunately, I’ve been here before where I’ve said it’s a serious knee injury, and we think ACL, and it wasn’t.
“So we need to be positive and just wait for the scans.
“He was in the rooms trying to help the boys in the huddle, and it looks like he’s coming out on to the bench.
“So that’s the sort of character he is and let’s just hope it’s positive news for us.”
Darcy punched the ground before being helped from the playing arena. He managed to hobble down to the rooms to have his knee tested. He had his boots off as he stood with the forward group at half-time. Several teammates and coaches gave him a consoling handshake or pat on the back.
The incident had cast a pall of silence over the crowd with the Bulldogs’ flag hopes immediately nosediving on the back of the potential ACL injury.
Darcy had started the game in the ruck but was playing forward when the incident occurred.
Darcy suffered a knee injury last season but returned after missing two months with a hyperextension. That injury to the same knee was diagnosed as an “impaction fracture” and the ligament was stretched.
His injury on Friday night occurred with Geelong well on top in the clash as Jeremy Cameron had kicked six goals by the 20-minute mark of the first half (and seven by half-time) as the Cats opened up a 50-point lead.
Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli was being tagged out of the match by Oisin Mullin.
More to come
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