‘Fearing the worst’: AFL world holds breath as ‘generational talent’ goes down with sickening injury

Emerging superstar Sam Darcy has gone down with a knee injury early on Sunday night against St Kilda, as fans across the league hold their breath in hope he avoids the worst.

The 21-year-old key forward winced in pain after hyperextending his left leg at the back end of the opening quarter at Marvel Stadium, having come down awkwardly from a marking contest inside the Western Bulldogs’ forward 50.

“He was in real pain, real pain,” Melbourne great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy commentary as Darcy awaited medical assistance.

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“Let’s hope for the best here, but just the way he grabbed it… we’re not doctors, of course. Just hope everything’s okay there.

“It’s a hyperextension then when he lands (on) his left knee.

“This is a generational talent, and every one of those Bulldogs players, supporters and footy lovers in general would be hoping for the best for that young man — that’s all we can do.”

Darcy notably struggled when leaving the field of play, and was heavily aided by physios before going straight down into the changerooms.

Darcy was aided by club medical staff when leaving the field of play on Sunday night. Source: FOX SPORTS

The 208cm tall was subbed out minutes later, and replaced by second-game sub Cooper Hynes.

322-game great Nick Dal Santo provided an update on Darcy at quarter time.

“We’re unclear how bad that knee injury is for Sam Darcy,” Dal Santo told Fox Footy.

“We know how important he has been for this Western Bulldogs team in the early stage of this year, (and) we know what this guy is capable of. This will have a huge ramification for the rest of this game.”

At half time of the clash, Western Bulldogs General Manager of Football Matt Egan told Seven that Darcy and the club were preparing for the worst.

“The medical staff are pretty concerned at this stage, they’re fearing the worst,” Egan said.

“It looks like a possible ACL, but we’re just going to have to wait until tomorrow and get scans to confirm … Until we get scans, it’s hard otherwise say too much.”

Darcy had kicked 14 goals from five games so far this season, asserting himself as one of the competition’s best emerging key forwards alongside Adelaide’s Riley Thilthorpe and Fremantle’s Josh Treacy.

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