Western Bulldogs recruit Nick Coffield will miss at least three months after requiring surgery on a hindered shoulder.
Coffield sustained the injury in Sunday's win over the Gold Coast Suns and wasn't able to see out the result, with the club since confirming the former St Kilda backman will undergo shoulder reconstruction surgery on Wednesday.
The procedure will force Coffiield to the sidelines for 12-14 weeks in what is another blow for the luckless Dogs defender.
Speaking via the club's update, Western Bulldogs medical lead Chris Bell said it was a sour note to the Dogs' Round 2 victory.
"Unfortunately, Nick suffered a shoulder dislocation early in the game against the Suns during an aerial contest,โ Bell said.
"This is the same shoulder Nick injured five years ago while he was at the Saints.
"This is devastating for Coff, who has been incredibly diligent and professional in working hard to build some continuity in his training after having an injury-interrupted couple of years before arriving at the Dogs.
"Nick will require a shoulder reconstruction surgery to repair the damage to his shoulder.
"This reconstruction will be completed tomorrow, and we will update his return to play plan in the coming months."
Defender Ed Richards has also been sidelined, with the dashing Bulldog entering concussion protocols following a collision with Suns veteran David Swallow.
The Dogs do have key defender James O'Donnell available this week after the second-year stopper suffered a concussion during a VFL practice match earlier this month.
At Arden Street, North Melbourne pair Cooper Harvey and Miller Bergman are both set for spells on the sidelines after suffering ankle and jaw injuries respectively.
Harvey hurt his ankle after a marking contest in the VFL over the weekend and will require up to six weeks on the sidelines due to the syndesmosis injury.
In the same game against the Northern Bullants, Bergman suffered a fractured jaw and recorded swelling in the wake of the VFL win.
Bergman will require surgery on the facial fracture and will miss at least a month.
"Cooper was removed from the game and placed in a moon boot as a conservative management approach," North Melbourne head of performance Kevin White told NMFC Media.
"Scans have since revealed a moderate syndesmosis and (Cooper) will have surgery on Tuesday.
"After pulling up sore post-game and subsequent swelling of the face later on Saturday evening, medical staff took Miller for scans which revealed a fracture.
"He'll have surgery Tuesday and have plates inserted. He'll be looking at a return to play timeframe of 4-6 weeks which will become clearer post-surgery."
The Roos are set to face Carlton on Friday at Marvel Stadium as they continue to search for their first win.
