Shaun Higgins will miss the entire season. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: Herald Sun
WESTERN Bulldog Shaun Higgins has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a nasty foot injury.
Scans today confirmed the forward broke the navicular bone in his left foot in yesterday's loss to Richmond, forcing him to go under the knife this week.
"Shaun is a resilient character and will leave no stone unturned in his recovery from this set-back," Dogs medical services manager Andrew McKenzie said.
Easton Wood is expected to miss six weeks with a severe hamstring tear, while forward Tory Dickson (ankle) will miss eight weeks after requiring surgery to repair a ruptured ligament.
The injury crisis could open the door for the Dogs to unveil prized draft pick Jake Stringer against Adelaide on Sunday.
The powerhouse booted five goals for VFL affiliate Williamstown on Saturday and would be a suitable replacement for Dickson or Higgins.
Stringer excited Dogs fans when he snapped a memorable goal with his first kick in the NAB Cup after causing a turnover and breaking a Sam Mitchell tackle.
Jake Stringer enjoys a goal late in the 3rd qtr Picture: Klein Michael Source: Herald Sun
The Matthew Pavlich-type player was on his way to a Round 1 debut before damaging his ankle in that pre-season match.
The mature-bodied teenager jagged four consecutive goals in the third quarter against Coburg to send Dogs supporters into a frenzy on Twitter.
The Dogs other prized recruit, No. 6 pick Jackson Macrae, is also on the cusp of debuting after impressing in the midfield for the Seagulls and being named an emergency the past two weeks.
Welcome to the major league, lads: Jake Stringer and Jackson Macrae after being selected at No.5 and No.6 by the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Herald Sun
The raw half-forward showed off his trademark sidestep in the VFL and dazzled in the second half of Williamstown's Round 1 match.
There was pre-draft speculation Stringer could prove a risk due to a broken leg he suffered in 2011.
Some clubs were put off by his hampered running gait at last year's draft camp, but the Dogs pounced on the 191cm, 93kg country lad at pick five and fixed his problem with a pair of orthotics and biomechanical running changes over the pre-season.
Bendigo Pioneers talent manager Ray Byrne said Stringer was a special talent with the "potential to be anything".
"Jake could match what Dustin Martin did in his first year, he's a good player," he said before the draft.
"Everything was in front of him before he broke his leg and then to get to where he is now, he's done a pretty good job.
"He's got a lot of strings to his bow, similar to James Hird."
Captain Matthew Boyd is also a strong chance to return after missing the first three rounds with a calf tear.
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