Western Bulldogs halfback Ed Richards will miss at least the next two games for the club after suffering a hamstring injury in a 22-point loss to the Geelong Cats on Saturday evening at Marvel Stadium.
Richards was subbed out of the contest dring the third quarter after suffering the injury, but coach Luke Beveridge is confident he has avoided significant damage and will be able to return after the club's bye.
Beveridge said originally Richards thought it was a cramp before realising the injury was more serious.
"We saw him limping and then he didn't come off. He thought he had a cramp, which is unusual, it wasn't that late in the game. He ran around for a bit longer, but our guys are hopeful it's not like J's [Jason Johannisen] and it's just a post-bye thing," Beveridge said during his post-game press conference.
Johannisen is set to miss at least another seven weeks with injury after suffering a high-grade hamstring straight with tendon damage during Round 10 against the Adelaide Crows.
It means the Bulldogs now have two of their top performers missing for at least the coming games, with the club to take on the Port Adelaide Power and North Melbourne Kangaroos (both in Melbourne) over the next ofrtnight before having a bye.
Their first game after the bye comes on Saturday, July 1 at home against the Fremantle Dockers, with it looming as Richards' return game, provided scans don't show extensive damage during the week.
The Bulldogs aren't believed to have any other issues out of the loss to Geelong, with Adam Treloar overcoming a calf issue and Marcus Bontempelli not concerned over a hyperextended knee.
