Bulldogs ruckman to miss start of season

AFL: The Western Bulldogs have received a blow as they head towards their premiership defence with big man Jordan Roughead forced to undergo surgery to repair his injured hamstring.

Roughead will miss at least the opening month of the premiership season after leaving the field following an awkward landing in his side's JLT Series loss to Melbourne at Whitten Oval on Saturday.

The Bulldogs were thankful the ruckman had escaped knee damage and on Monday, while yet to get to the bottom of the injury, feared he might miss up to six weeks.

However it's been revealed he'll miss at least two months, meaning Roughead will miss the early part of his side's 2017 campaign.

"Jordan sustained a hamstring tendon injury to the area the tendon inserts on the back of his knee during a ruck contest on the weekend and has subsequently undergone surgery,” Dogs physiotherapist Chris Bell said.

"We expect he'll resume full training in approximately eight weeks.”

Midfielder Luke Dahlhaus, while hopeful Roughead wasn't seriously injured, said he was confident the team could cover the premiership ruck's absence.

"I think the depth of our team is great and that's why we went so well last year,” Dahlhaus said.

"We've got Tim English, Tommy Campbell, Clokey (Travis Cloke) who can play in the ruck as well. We've got plenty of blokes who can fill that spot.

"Hopefully Roughy is up and going pretty soon.”