Relief for Bulldogs as Sam Darcy Dodges Devastating ACL Blow
Wow, talk about a rollercoaster of emotions for Bulldogs fans. Just when it looked like we’d be losing one of our brightest young stars for the entire season, Sam Darcy has somehow dodged the dreaded ACL tear that had everyone holding their breath.
During Sunday night’s dominant 71-point win over St Kilda, Darcy landed awkwardly after a marking contest early in the first quarter. It looked bad —like, season-ending bad. The 21-year-old was helped from the field, and the fear across the faces of teammates, coaches, and even his family was telling. Everyone thought this might be a cruel season-ender for a kid who’s had more than his fair share of injury setbacks.
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But here’s where the script flipped. Scans on Monday revealed that while Darcy did suffer an impaction fracture in his knee and some ligament damage, his ACL is intact. That’s massive news. He’ll still need surgery, and we’re looking at months on the sidelines, but the dream of seeing him back on the field later this season is very much alive.
Let’s not forget the form this guy was in. Over the first five rounds, Darcy kicked 14 goals and averaged over eight marks a game. He was becoming a real weapon inside 50 and even giving Tim English some help in the ruck. Losing him hurts, no doubt—but knowing he might return for the tail end of the year, possibly even a finals push, brings real hope.
Luke Beveridge and the Dogs now face a few forward line questions in the short term. Rory Lobb, Buku Khamis, and James O’Donnell will all be in the mix, while young guns like Jordan Croft and Jedd Busslinger are knocking on the door for senior debuts. And of course, with Jamarra Ugle-Hagan still unavailable, the Bulldogs will have to reshuffle their structure up front.
One silver lining? Marcus Bontempelli is back—and firing. He had 30 touches and two goals in his return match, proving once again why he’s one of the best in the business.
In the end, this is a massive emotional win for Sam, his family, the club, and the fans. It could’ve been a disaster, but instead, there’s a real chance we see him back in the red, white and blue this year. Fingers crossed his surgery and rehab go smoothly, because when Darcy’s out there, the Dogs are simply better.
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