Western Bulldogs star Ed Richards could be set for more time on the sidelines after suffering a worrying injury in the final quarter of Saturday night’s heavy loss to Hawthorn.
Richards, who missed last week’s win over Essendon with a knee issue, left the field in serious pain after an innocuous clash with Jai Newcombe.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Ed Richards leaves ground in serious pain
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The gun midfielder appeared to roll his ankle and also potentially clash knees before going down in a heap.
Play was stopped as medical staff came out to help a visibly distressed Richards off the field.
“He’s in real trouble. Gee, this is sad,” David King said on Fox Footy.
Anthony Hudson added: “No one wants to see that. Literally adding injury to insult. He’s writhing in pain.”
Richards was later pictured behind the bench speaking to doctors. He had removed his boot with coach Luke Beveridge later confirming it was an ankle injury
“We don’t know the extent of it yet, we’ll have a look through the imaging and then we’ll get back to you,” he said after the match.
“We’re just hoping that it’s not too bad, but I can’t give you anything until the medical staff give us something definitive.”
The injury came with the Hawks well in control of the match.
Aside from a mini comeback midway through the third quarter, the Hawks completely dominated the previously undefeated Bulldogs in a 40-point victory.
Hawthorn’s defenders stood tall with Tom Barrass, Josh Battle and James Sicily all superb, while Jack Ginnivan was prolific and creative through the midfield.
Mitch Lewis had a day out with 10 marks and three goals, while ageless veteran Jack Gunston also kicked three.
But the Hawks have their own injury issues with Mabior Chol suffering a hamstring injury in the first quarter.
The win takes Hawthorn to third spot on the ladder with the equal-best record in the competition.
Meanwhile, the Dogs’ first loss of the season seems them drop to fourth spot.
They were well beaten in the ruck without star big man Tim English as Lloyd Meek and Ned Reeves gave the Hawthorn midfielders first use.
Jai Newcombe racked up a career-best 14 clearances among 19 contested possessions.
For the Dogs, Marcus Bontempelli had 26 in another strong outing, while Matthew Kennedy and Ricahrds battled on before the latter’s injury.
Sam Darcy threatened to kick a bag after two first-quarter goals, but was then shut out by a combination of Barrass and Battle.
Hawthorn had the best of the opening erm, with Lewis kicking two of four goals for a nine-point quarter-time lead.
The Hawks then put the squeeze on the Dogs, holding them goal-less in a decisive second term to create a 28-point advantage at halftime, when prime mover Newcombe already had eight of his side’s 22 clearances — the Bulldogs had only a dozen.
The Dogs, after blowing a series of set shots, reduced their deficit two minutes into the third quarter when Joel Freijah ran in to an open goal.
But the Hawks accelerated again with three goals in less than four minutes.
Livewire Nick Watson kicked one and set up another, and the influential Ginnivan’s classy left-foot snap helped create a match-high 44-point break.
The Dogs appeared to be on canvas but were revived by young pups Josh Dolan, Harvey Gallagher and Cooper Hynes.
The inexperienced trio all slotted goals in a rapid retort from the previously unbeaten Bulldogs, who were 21 points down at three-quarter time.
But the Hawks expertly closed out victory before 48,481 spectators, kicking three consecutive goals before Bulldogs playmaker Richards hobbled off.
– With AAP
