The Bulldogs are optimistic that star forward Aaron Naughton has not injured his anterior cruciate ligament after leaving the ground in the second quarter with a leg injury and being ruled out for the rest of the game.

Naughton’s knee was caught underneath him as he was brought down in a tackle by Lewis Melican in the second quarter, and he immediately clutched at his leg.

In an act of good sportsmanship, Melican showed his concern by urgently waving to medical staff to come on.

The Dogs won’t know the full extent of the injury until he goes for scans on Friday.

From a short-term perspective, the Dogs are now down two to just two fit men on the bench. They have already activated their sub, Ryley Sanders, who came on for Anthony Scott. Scott came off after a head clash with Harry Cunningham as the pair contested a ground ball.

To compound their woes, Ed Richards was ruled out of the game in the third quarter after failing a concussion test

Even if Naughton’s injury is on the lower end, and he misses a few weeks, it leaves the Dogs with a massive hole in their forward line.

Does it give maligned big man Rory Lobb another crack at the top level, or will Luke Beveridge take the opportunity to pick a smaller forward line that is better placed to lay pressure?

Naughton recently signed an eight-year extension to his Bulldogs’ contract that will take him through to the end of the 2032 season.