WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge will try to talk captain Robert Murphy into playing on if scan results on Monday afternoon confirm the worst on his injured left knee.

The Bulldogs were yet to receive confirmation that Murphy had damaged his anterior cruciate ligament in Sunday's loss to Hawthorn, but Beveridge still feared the worst on Monday morning.

The coach pointed to former Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher and North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey as two players Murphy could follow by playing well into his 30s.

"In recent times Bob and I have been talking about his future, and he's been really keen to keep playing beyond this year," Beveridge said.

"I've been really keen for him to keep playing for another couple of years.

"I'm hopeful that once it all settles and if it does confirm the worst after lunch time, that Bob's still got a bright future as a player and as the captain of our footy club."

Beveridge said a decision on whether Murphy underwent a LARS operation and attempted to return this season would be completely up to the 33-year-old in consultation with orthopaedic surgeon David Young.

"At the start of players' careers, there's no doubt that our preference has always been to have the [traditional] surgery that 'Youngy' does so well," Beveridge said.

"Clay Smith will come back some time this year and Rourke (Smith) is not far away.

"So we'll consider all possibilities and do what we can for Bob's well-being more than anything."

Murphy has played 295 games, and signed a one-year deal last May to take his career into a 17th season.

Beveridge said the veteran had given him indications that he wanted to play on beyond this season before suffering the injury on Sunday. 

"The kind of footy he plays, his attention to detail and his preparation all points towards the prospect of him playing on," the coach said.

"There's been some players, Dustin Fletcher, 'Boomer' Harvey's a great example for keeping on keeping on.

"I see him as a 33-year-old 27-year-old and every time I talk to him I hope he thinks the same way."

The Bulldogs players were more emotional about Murphy's injury than their three-point loss on Sunday night and Beveridge said they would meet as a group on Monday to map a path forward.

He said the "clinical" nature of the game meant they needed to address it and move on and find ways to replace one of their most influential players.

"We've got lots of suitors who are willing to step up and play that high half-back role that Bob's able to play," he said.  

"We're fortunate enough to have recruited Matt Suckling, who played a brilliant game yesterday, and we've got Jed Adcock there from an experience point of view.

"That's our mandate this week, to move on quickly and focus on the game."