Western Bulldogs midfielder Lin Jong's AFL season is officially over, with scans confirming he tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the loss to Melbourne on Sunday.
The Dogs had feared the worst after Jong crumpled to the ground when his kick was smothered by Demons captain Nathan Jones early in the first quarter.
Jong will undergo a traditional knee reconstruction and miss the rest of the 2017 campaign.
It is another injury blow for the 24-year-old, who missed last year's grand final triumph after breaking his collarbone in the elimination final.
"We're all devastated for Jongy and we'll put a really strong support network around him," Bulldogs physiotherapist Chris Bell said on Monday.
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"He'll undergo a conventional hamstring tendon reconstruction later this week, but we look forward to seeing Jongy back into some football in the early parts of 2018."
Skipper Bob Murphy (hamstring) is set to return for the struggling Dogs within the next two weeks after a fortnight on the sidelines.
The premiers, who copped a 57-point thrashing from the Demons, will look to get their season back on track when they face North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
