Not an ACL. NOT. An. ACL. Thank *!*!*!*! for that.

EMERGING Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton has escaped an anterior cruciate ligament setback, but his pre-season could still be delayed after landing awkwardly on Saturday.

The Dogs' season ended in an elimination final defeat to Greater Western Sydney, after which coach Luke Beveridge said early indications were Naughton had avoided a serious knee injury.

Scans on Sunday confirmed that suspicion, although the 19-year-old did sustain some damage to the lateral ligament in his left knee.

Naughton required assistance to leave the field and couldn't put any weight on the leg at the time, heightening fears he had suffered a dreaded ACL rupture.

A club statement said Naughton would consult with a specialist in the coming days to determine his best course of management and to develop a rehabilitation plan.

"The initial assessment of the injury isn't that it's extreme, but they've got to scan it to work out whether or not he might need surgery. It doesn't seem to be ACL, it seems to be lateral," Beveridge said post-match.

"But I'd rather not comment in any detail – let our practitioners work it out. He'll have a scan and we'll publicise what that is as soon as we can."

It might well prove to be one of the few positives from a 58-point defeat that Beveridge described as "a nightmare", "a bit of a disaster", "an eye-opening experience" and "numbing".

He was disappointed in the lack of balance in the Dogs' performance on an afternoon in which they were swamped in inside 50s (76-37), disposals (395-319), contested possessions (167-125) and clearances (47-35).

Beveridge was at a loss to explain why they had been so comprehensively outworked, believing they had put their big round 22 victory over a depleted GWS at the same venue behind them.

"There's no doubt they probably played with an energy we didn't have, unfortunately," he said.

"We couldn't win it on the inside, when we got our hands on it we coughed it up, and even in transition we couldn't find each other on overlap – just nothing went right.

"As far as our ball use goes, we just couldn't get into space, we didn't run like we usually do – all the things that (were) evident in our victories just weren't there."

Dogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli was heavily tagged by Matt de Boer and was physically targeted at every opportunity by the Giants and was held to just 13 possessions – his lowest tally in 47 games – but Beveridge said he'd expected his best player to receive such treatment.

"That's how you win finals. It's a credit to them," he said.

Overall, Beveridge said his young team had displayed persistence this season after being 15th after 14 rounds.

"I've been grateful and proud of the way that (the youngsters) have fought their way through the back half of the year maybe before their time and contributing to some fantastic victories," he said.

"We'd prefer not to use that angle that we've got some time and some gaps to make up maturity wise because we feel we can still win the day there. We've beaten some pretty experienced sides.

"But you did see the heavier bodies (of the Giants) impact a bit more than ours."


The 2016 premiership coach said he was keen to become a "more formidable team" and start the season in a better fashion than it did this year.

He hoped to improve the club's key position and back-up ruck stocks in the off-season.

4 months max rehab for a severe grade 3.
Naughton is in our top 2-3 most important players.

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Originally Posted by Mofra

4 months max rehab for a severe grade 3.
Naughton is in our top 2-3 most important players.

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Yep. When it happened yesterday i said to my children that i would take a finals loss over losing Astro for 12 months.

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Originally Posted by HOSE B ROMERO

Yep. When it happened yesterday i said to my children that i would take a finals loss over losing Astro for 12 months.

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And not only that, an ACL & the need for a full reco can significantly alter the trajectory of a player’s development.

Think of the size of his upper body and arms/biceps by the time he plays next year.

Good news.

This is great news. He is a player of great promise. This injury could not have come at a better time. Always look on the bright side of life.

Employ Dale Morris now as Naughty’s personal rehab coach, then can’t wait to see his rig at the start of next season!

Better news. It didn’t look good initially on the TV but more positive that it is not an ACL. Aaron has had another excellent season. Still young with many years ahead.

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Originally Posted by SquirrelGrip

Employ Dale Morris now as Naughty’s personal rehab coach, then can’t wait to see his rig at the start of next season!

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Yep, Dale should be on the payroll just for that purpose...

Great news. Hopefully just some minor surgery and a quick recovery back in time to commence preseason training later this year.

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Originally Posted by comrade

Yep, Dale should be on the payroll just for that purpose...

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Dale still needs to actually do his own knee rehab for post playing life. Offer him the clubs resources/staff and he and Naughton can do their rehab together over Spring and Summer.

Does the injury mean he will have an increased chance of an acl in the future?

Naughton mentioned his knee was not as serious as first thought, last night at the airport ( not to me)

Thank God. My favourite up-and-coming player, would hate to see him do an ACL so early into his career.
I still cry that Clay Smith's career was ended so early due to injury, would hate to see it happen again to another gun player of ours