The Western Bulldogs have confirmed skipper Bob Murphy tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the dying stages of Sunday’s three-point loss to Hawthorn.

Coach Luke Beveridge was resigned to losing Murphy for an extended period when he spoke to reporters on Monday, with scans since confirming the 33-year-old has ruptured an ACL and also sustained medial ligament damage.

Murphy must decide between ligament augmentation reconstruction system (LARS) surgery that could see him return later this year or a traditional reconstruction that would rule him out for the rest of the season.