Western Bulldogs great Luke Darcy lives saddest sight in football as son goes down

Sad dressing room footage of Western Bulldogs great Luke Darcy says it all after superstar son Sam became “the biggest story in footy”.

Sad footage of Luke Darcy has emerged as the footy world braces for the Bulldogs to confirm devastating injury news about his superstar son Sam.

After a red-hot start to the 2025 season, the young forward was labelled a “generational talent” by come commentators and his likely season-ending knee injury is a cruel development for the football club and his family.

Word leaked through during the Dogs’ 71-point thrashing of St Kilda at Marvel Stadium on Sunday that Darcy had torn his ACL in his left knee during the first quarter.

FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.

The 21-year-old had competed to mark a high ball against two St Kilda defenders, but his leg buckled and he appeared to hyperextend his left knee in the contest.

The Bulldogs have not yet confirmed the terrible news — with the club waiting for it to be confirmed following scans.

It was a wretched thing for Luke Darcy to have to sit through after he also suffered a season-ending knee injury 20 years ago in eerily similar circumstances, playing in Round 6 of the 2005 season. Sunday’s Dogs-Saints clash was also a Round 6 fixture.

Darcy, who finished his career with 226 games for the club, was spotted by Fox Footy dressing room cameras and the sight of the club legend — and his wife Rebecca — looking forlorn was described as “really emotional scenes” by Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon during the broadcast.

Cameras also captured the father giving his son a hug towards the end of the game.

Sam had been quickly subbed out of the game in the first quarter and was later seen on the bench with some strapping on his leg.

Sam Darcy joined teammates for the song after being consoled by dad Luke.

Darcy was instantly in significant pain. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge did not confirm the news but praised the key forward for his decisions to celebrate with teammates, sing the club song and take part in a post-game team photo.

“I can’t really elaborate (on Darcy’s injury) until the medicos have got the results of a scan,” he said.

“It’s fair to say that we’re a bit concerned, but I don’t know, so there’s no use me even trying (to elaborate).

“Let’s not speculate, but I think the important thing is ... Sam comes in (to the rooms), he knows that he might have a serious knee injury, but he’s in the huddle (with) arms around his teammates, singing the song. It just shows what sort of character he is.

Sam Darcy at halftime. Photo: Fox Sports

Luke Darcy seeing his son in the Bulldogs' rooms. Photo: Fox Sports

“If we lose him for a while, then we’ve just got to do it a different way and look after him.”

Beveridge was also delighted in how his team handled Darcy’s absence.

“I didn’t think for a minute that the players deviated from what their challenge was or were affected in a detrimental way because of what may have happened to Sam. So they held it together,” Beveridge said.

“It was important that we stuck to task. We weren’t happy with the way we started and there were some things that we discussed that were imperatives that we had to get right and early it looked off so we did have a chat about that and the players really responded.”

It was an enormous dampener on what had been a carnival atmosphere to start the game, which was pitting two teams against each other right on the cusp of the top eight with identical 3-3 records early in the season.

The Saints bolted out of the blocks with four of the opening five goal before the Dogs replied with two of their own before Darcy’s horror moment immediately shifted the focus.

Rather than let it get them down, the Bulldogs somehow lifted and kicked five unanswered goals in a dominant second term for a 28-point lead at halftime but the attention was still on the club’s 208cm talent.

Sam Darcy of the Bulldogs and father Luke Darcy embrace after Sam injured his knee. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

It was a rough night for the family. Picture: Michael Klein.

“This is the biggest story in footy right now, maybe for the year given where he sits in the competition Sam Darcy,” Lyon said on Fox Footy.

“We don’t want to be absolutely dramatic, but this is a generational talent … and footy lovers will be hoping for the best for that young man.”

After kicking 38 goals in 21 matches last season, Darcy had taken his game to a new level in 2025, kicking 14 majors through the Dogs’ five fixtures coming into Sunday night.

It included 15 disposals, eight marks and four goals against the Pies in round two and 21 touches, 11 marks and five goals against Fremantle two weeks later.

Originally published as Western Bulldogs great Luke Darcy lives saddest sight in football as son goes down