AFL: Scans confirm Western Bulldogs forward Josh Bruce needs knee reconstruction

An unexpected loss has been compounded by a horror injury for the Western Bulldogs with finals on the horizon.

Marcus Bontempelli consoles Josh Bruce after he injured his knee. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The news the Western Bulldogs didn’t want to hear on Monday was confirmed.

Star forward Josh Bruce has ruptured his ACL, will require a full knee reconstruction and may not play again for 12 months.

Bruce, 29, will miss the Bulldogs’ premiership push after hurting his left knee in the final seconds of Sunday’s loss to Essendon at Marvel Stadium – his 150th AFL game.

“Josh had scans this morning which have confirmed an ACL injury to his left knee,” Bulldogs head of sports medicine Chris Bell said.

“We’re devastated for him and will do everything we can to support him through this period.

“We will work through a plan with Josh for surgery over the next couple of days.”

Western Bulldogs forward Josh Bruce has ruptured his ACL. Picture: Michael Klein

Fearing the worst after the game, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said his side would have to “dig deep” to cover Bruce, who has been having one of the best years of his career.

Bruce booted three goals on Sunday to move up to second on the Coleman Medal leaderboard, 10 goals behind Carlton’s Harry McKay.

“We might have to do it a bit of a different way as we have in the past,” he said.

“That affects your decisions, probably your ball use going inside 50 a bit more, but that’s the challenge of this caper … finding a way when the template changes.

“(Jamarra Ugle-Hagan), what’s he played, five games now, is he ready to rip apart the last two games and a finals series? Well, I don’t think any young key forward has done that.”

Originally published as AFL: Scans confirm Western Bulldogs forward Josh Bruce needs knee reconstruction