Bulldogs welcome back Sam Darcy from injury for AFL clash with Saints
The Western Bulldogs' Sam Darcy will return from a knee injury earlier than expected after it was earlier feared his AFL season was over.
Darcy was initially told he may have torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when he landed awkwardly in the Bulldogs' win over St Kilda in round six on Easter Sunday.
It was then thought the 21-year-old would require surgery and face a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
But Darcy avoided the need for surgery and missed only six matches with an impaction fracture and associated ligament damage.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed Darcy will return to action in another clash with the 12th-placed Saints at Docklands on Thursday night.
"He's done a really scrupulous and professional job on rehabilitation from that injury," Beveridge said on Wednesday.
"We welcome him back and look forward to having him part of tomorrow night."
Darcy enjoyed a superb start to the year, kicking 14 goals in his first five matches.
He will add to the ninth-placed Bulldogs' attacking weapons against the Saints as they look to bounce back from a humbling 22-point defeat to Hawthorn last Thursday.
"We'll blend a little bit of ruck time in there to make sure he's (Darcy) involved in the game," Beveridge said.
"But he's an enormous threat (in the forward line) and we saw the way that his early part of the season was evolving and his presence.
"Early in the game last week, Hawthorn took a lot of intercept marks. With Sam there (against St Kilda), that definitely won't happen."
Darcy's return is a further boost for the Bulldogs after confirmation Beveridge had agreed to a two-year contract extension, tying him to the club until 2027.
The Bulldogs' longest-serving coach — who led the club to the 2016 premiership — is hopeful out-of-contract captain Marcus Bontempelli will soon follow suit.
"It's important for all of us," Beveridge said.
"What an incredible player Marcus has been, and what a citizen and person he is."
AAP
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