Updated ,first published
Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy suffered a serious knee injury at GMHBA Stadium in a devastating blow to the club’s premiership hopes on a dirty night against the Cats.
The giant forward fell to the ground clutching his left knee as he led out towards the ball during the second quarter as the Bulldogs suffered carnage on the injury front with Tom Liberatore concussed and key defenders James O’Donnell and Rory Lobb both injuring their hamstrings.
The Bulldogs’ shocking run overshadowed the Cats’ brilliant performance as they annihilated their opponents from start to finish with key forward Jeremy Cameron kicking seven goals in the first half to help his team to a 57-point lead at half-time.
He waited until there was just eight seconds of the clash remaining before he kicked his 10th goal. It was the second time in his career he had kicked that tally. He had to survive a score review before being awarded the goal, but arguably his biggest smile was reserved for defender Jake Kolodjashnij, who earlier kicked just the fifth goal of his career.
Geelong already had control of the game before Darcy’s injury as they dominated territory and had a 32-point lead at the first break.
Geelong eventually ran out 75-point winners as they celebrated Mark Blicavs’ 300-game milestone and Kolodjashnij’s 200th in style after a third-quarter lull.
Bailey Smith was outstanding against his former club and Max Holmes was equally damaging. Oisin Mullin blanketed Marcus Bontempelli (who also wrenched his knee at one stage), restricting him to just 14 disposals. Ed Richards, who came into the game under an injury cloud of his own, battled hard for the Bulldogs.
But the big blow was the loss of Darcy. 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.
The Bulldogs already have ruckman Tim English and defender Connor Budarick sidelined with Cody Weightman still recovering from a long-term injury as they play Sydney on Thursday night.
Geelong next head back to Adelaide to play Port Adelaide with their season starting to hum.
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