Bob Murphy set for stint on sidelines after injuring his hamstring in win over St Kilda

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is bracing to be without Bob Murphy for some time after the captain injured his hamstring late in the final term in the win over St Kilda.

Bob Murphy has injured his hamstring.

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is bracing to be without skipper Bob Murphy for “some weeks” after the star went down with a hamstring late in the team’s 40-point victory over St Kilda.

The captain was spotted indicating to the mid-range of his hamstring with club medical staff in the rooms post-game, where he was quickly strapped with ice packs on both his left hamstring and knee, which he had reconstructed last year.

And while Beveridge was hesitant to make any immediate diagnosis, he has conceded he will likely be without Murphy until at least Round 13.

“I don’t know enough to give you anything around how bad it is, but obviously he has hurt it,” the coach said.

Bob Murphy on the bench after hurting his hamstring.

“I’d imagine he’d probably miss some weeks, even though we’ve got a bye. I wouldn’t think that he’d be available for the Sydney game, as is the way with hamstrings. It’s usually at least three (weeks) these days.”

Saturday’s win rocketed the Bulldogs to fourth on the ladder with a 6-4 record heading into the bye — a far nicer state of play when compared to last year, when the Cats trumped the Western Bulldogs by 57 points before their weekend off.

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And in a “tight competition”, Beveridge didn’t dismiss the old football adage of a win like Saturday’s being an “eight-point game”.

“The competition hasn’t really opened up and it may or it may not,” he said.

“That term is probably relevant for a lot of sides every week, I’d say.

Jake Stringer was best on ground in the victory.

“This is a nice time to go out and reflect, think about the work we’ve put in, how it sets us up for the back end of the year and come back full of energy to try and string some wins together.”

Forward Jake Stringer’s five goals reflected “a complete game”, according to his coach.

“He’s played many very, very good games, but today was a great team game,” Beveridge said.

“He got the reward on the scoreboard, but there was a lot of sacrifice in his game. He really worked for his teammates and we’re really encouraged by what Jake did, especially off a bit of a break which isn’t always easy. It was an outstanding performance.”

Clay Smith wasn’t risked after tweaking his calf, while Beveridge said Tom Liberatore and Travis Cloke’s immediate playing prospects were set to be assessed after Saturday night’s VFL clash with Sandringham at Whitten Oval.