Bulldogs make call on return of troubled star after Sam Darcy injury (2025)

Luke Beveridge intends to get creative to replace injured star Sam Darcy in the Western Bulldogs' forward-line but the short-term fix won't include Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.

Darcy faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after suffering a suspected anterior cruciate ligament rupture during the Bulldogs' 71-point thrashing of St Kilda on Sunday night.

The 21-year-old had been the Dogs' main target in attack this season and now leaves a massive hole in their bid to play finals.

Beveridge will turn to his 'role-player options' to fill the void and hinted he could also use a smaller line-up going forward, starting with the round-seven meeting with GWS in Canberra.

'Buku (Khamis) can play either end of the ground, as James (O'Donnell) can,' Beveridge said.

'We think long-term James is probably more of a key back for us.

'It's not in the Plan A approach to the game to play Rory (Lobb) forward at the start of a game, but it is an option.

'He'll do anything for the team - he's a great team man like that.

'And the other option is to just play a bit smaller at times.'

Troubled star Ugle-Hagan remains unavailable for selection as he deals with personal issues.

The 23-year-old was the Bulldogs' top goal-kicker with 43 majors last year - ahead of Darcy with 38 - but has not played at all this season.

Beveridge said last week Ugle-Hagan's playing future is in the hands of the AFL, and on Sunday night he insisted Darcy's injury hadn't raised the chances of a recall for the former No.1 draft pick.

'That's obviously not going to happen in the immediate term so it's probably not worth discussing at the moment,' Beveridge said.

'As far as any replacements go, we really can't consider 'Marra.'

Prominent past players last week led calls for the Bulldogs to stand down Ugle-Hagan after new vision of the 23-year-old partying emerged on social media.

One major positive in attack against St Kilda for Beveridge was Aaron Naughton's improved form after quarter-time.

With Darcy subbed out before quarter-time, Naughton kicked 3.3 from 12 disposals as the most dangerous forward on the ground.

Naughton managed just five goals in his first four games this season but has now kicked six in his last two.

'He really stood up and put his leadership hat in the ring,' Beveridge said.

'He probably missed some chances, too, to really get some spoils, but I'm really happy with the way he responded after quarter-time.

'Early in the game he probably wasn't quite where we needed him to be, even with Sam there, so it was a pretty important role he played tonight.'

Beveridge was careful not to paint too grim a picture on Darcy before the budding superstar's scan results are known, but conceded he was 'a bit concerned'.

Bulldogs football manager Matt Egan didn't mince his words.

'The medical staff are pretty concerned at this stage and they're fearing the worst,' Egan told the Seven Network at halftime in the Saints clash.

'It looks like a possible ACL but we're just going to have to wait until tomorrow to get scans to confirm.

'At this stage we're fearing the worst, which is unfortunate because he's an incredible person and we'll obviously miss him.

'But until we get scans it's pretty hard to say too much.'

It is just less than 20 years to the day since Darcy's father - 226-game Bulldogs great Luke - suffered the first of two serious knee injuries that sidelined him for most of 2005-06.

Darcy kicked 38 goals in a breakout campaign last year and added 14 as the Bulldogs' most prolific forward through their first five games this season.

Widely regarded as a generational talent, the 205cm target signed a four-year contract extension with the Bulldogs last December, which ties him to the club until the end of 2029.

Luke BeveridgeWestern Bulldogs

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