The Western Bulldogs hope Jason Johannisen will escape surgery for the hamstring injury that will put a big hole in his AFL season.
Johannisen had the best-possible news about his severe hamstring tear on Monday, with scans showing it had not separated from the bone.
The injury is still a cruel blow for the speedy half-back, who had made an outstanding start to the season.
It was rated as high-grade with tendon involvement, meaning Johannisen is out of action for about two months.
But if the hamstring had come off the bone, Johannisen would definitely had gone under the knife.
That would have sidelined him for around four months.
While there is still a slight chance Johannisen will need surgery, that now is considered unlikely.
“We’re considering our options, seeking further specialist advice, and we’ll know in the next 24 hours exactly how we plan to move forward,” Bulldogs football manager Graham Lowe told the club website.
Johannisen ripped his hamstring while snapping a goal from outside 50m in Saturday night’s win over Carlton.
He limped off the ground in distress and was on crutches after the match.
Also on Saturday night, Tom Boyd hurt his right shoulder again in a ruck contest.
The shoulder was already strapped after a pre-season injury.
“(It was) similar to an incident he had during the preseason,” Lowe said.
“The positive news from the scan is that there’s no further damage to the shoulder.
“We are seeking further specialist advice.”
But Matt Suckling is expected to play in Saturday’s home game against Brisbane after rolling his ankle against the Blues.
Vice-captain Easton Wood should return from hamstring tightness.
Tory Dickson has also made a successful VFL return from a quad muscle injury.
Meanwhile, the club confirmed that captain Bob Murphy will have a traditional reconstruction on his left knee.
The operation will sideline Murphy for the rest of the season and the 34-year-old is yet to decide on his AFL future.
“Bob has considered the surgical options available to him and he’s determined he’ll do the conventional ACL reconstruction,” Lowe said.
“He’ll be having that done in the coming days.”
