Western Bulldog Lin Jong has suffered a suspected serious knee injury during the side's clash with Melbourne at Etihad Stadium this afternoon.
Jong went down clutching his right knee after one of his kicks in the first quarter was smothered by Demons's co-captain, Nathan Jones, who also collected Jong's knee in the process.
He was helped from the ground by trainers following the incident and will spend the rest of the match on the bench.
Coach Luke Beveridge said post-match at this stage, the club is expecting he will require a knee reconstruction.
"It always is (devastating). We've had too many of them, so it's disappointing," Beveridge said.
"But like the ones that have gone before him we just need to help him with his rehab and get him back as big and strong as he has been and we'll have him hopefully somewhere near the start of next year."