Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains says the Club will take a conservative approach to Sam Darcy’s injury management.

The Dogs feared the worst when Darcy went down clutching his knee in the Easter Sunday match against St Kilda, but Bains shared a positive update on SEN 1116 on Thursday morning.

“Our medical team has worked through all of the scans and consulted a number of specialists on how to best manage Sam’s injury, and we’ve decided to move forward with a more conservative management plan which doesn’t require surgery,” Bains said.

“Our medicos believe it will give him the best chance of a strong recovery, and we’re looking at somewhere between 2-3 months at this stage, subject to the knee settling and continuing to monitor his progress.”

There has also been encouraging dialogue in regard to out-of-contract stars Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards, said Bains.

“Sam Power and Tom Petroro have been in constant discussion, so we have absolutely zero concerns about Marcus signing at the club; we’re hopeful now that things might progress but Ed Richards is in the same boat,” he shared.

“Conveniently they have the same manager...our latest indication is that we’re much closer to finalising an extension for Ed, which is obviously exciting for us all given he’s taken another step with his form in 2025.

“I think there’s a number of things that Marcus was looking at – I don’t think any of them gave us or gives us any concern that he’s not going to remain. He’s a deeply considered and thoughtful man.

“I’m sure looking at how we started, and even perhaps how some younger players performed in Marcus’s absence – all of that would’ve come into calculations and been at the forefront of his mind.

“As I said though none of that has given us any concern, notwithstanding some of the false reports about him potentially having met with other clubs, which (are) categorically false.”