Marcus Bontempelli suffered a calf injury just 11 minutes into the Western Bulldogs' practice match against Hawthorn on Thursday evening.
He was forced off the field and immediately went down the race.

What happened?

The Western Bulldogs captain was withdrawn from the match due to "low level calf tightness".

Why it matters for Marcus Bontempelli

Bontempelli eased fans' concerns by telling boundary rider Cameron Mooney that "he'll be right".

What comes next?

The Bulldogs' first match of the AFL season is against North Melbourne on March 15, giving Bontempelli over two weeks to recover.

The club already has a growing injury list, with Adam Treloar, Liam Jones, Jason Johannisen, and Cody Weightman ruled out of Round 1.
Ed Richards and Bailey Dale are racing the clock to be fit.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan will also miss due to personal issues.

Despite Bontempelli's absence, the Bulldogs made a bright start and led by 22 points at half-time.
Mature-age recruit Sam Davidson was impressive early, pressing his claims for a round-one AFL debut.
Davidson, 23, has one year left to complete his medical degree and had racked up a game-high 23 disposals and kicked a goal.

Defender and star recruit Tom Barrass was playing his first game for the Hawks.
The Bulldogs will be hoping Bontempelli can recover in time for their first match.
Bontempelli's injury is a worrying concern for the club, but he has time to recover before the season starts.

The Western Bulldogs will be looking to bounce back from their injury concerns and make a strong start to the season.
With Bontempelli at the helm, they will be hoping to make a deep run into the finals.
But for now, the focus is on getting their star players back on the field.

The practice match was a good test for the Bulldogs, and they will be looking to build on their performance.
They will be hoping to have a full squad to choose from soon, but for now, they will have to make do without some of their key players.

Bontempelli's injury is a setback, but the Bulldogs are confident he will be back to his best soon.
They will be monitoring his progress closely and hoping he can recover in time for their first match.

The AFL season is just around the corner, and the Western Bulldogs will be looking to make a strong start.
With Bontempelli leading the charge, they will be hoping to make a deep run into the finals.
But for now, the focus is on getting their star players back on the field and building on their practice match performance.