Infotainment Factory: Dogs star in neck brace after crushing hit

The Western Bulldogs had a strong showing against North Melbourne, defeating the Kangaroos by 58 points in a match simulation at Ikon Park.

Looking a revived Bulldogs side, new recruits Rory Lobb and Liam Jones excelled as the club's young attackers piled on multi-goal hauls.

However, the dominant performance was spoilt by a trio of injuries to the premiership fancies.

In the first quarter, veteran Bulldogs defender Taylor Duryea appeared to suffer a neck injury in a tackle from Roos co-captain Jy Simpkin, prompting spinal injury procedures to be put into effect.

Taylor Duryea had a neck brace put on for as a precautionary measure.

"You see a bit of a knock as he's taking that tackle," commentator Cameron Mooney said on Fox Footy's coverage.

Duryea left the field unassisted but had a neck brace fitted and was later taken to hospital for precautionary scans.

"You just see the back of his neck, he looks pretty sore. He's got the jumper off already and is down in the changerooms," Mooney added.

Duryea was later cleared of a serious neck injury.

"He got a little knock to the neck but all the scans have cleared him of any injury," Bulldogs assistant coach Rohan Smith said.

"He feels OK, so that's a real positive for us.

"We'll see how he recovers and talk to the doctors ... he's just going to have a little bit of a rest now.

"He'll probably introduce himself through training this week and hopefully be right for round one."

In the same quarter, defender Ed Richards was also subbed out with a corked left thigh.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan of the Bulldogs (C) celebrates kicking a goal during the AFL Practice Match between the Western Bulldogs and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Ikon Park on March 04, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

In the third quarter, fellow defender Hayden Crozier suffered a dislocated finger and also exited the game prematurely.

Adding to the Bulldogs' injury woes, young gun Cody Weightman was a late withdrawal from the practice match with an adductor complaint.

All players expected to be fit for the Dogs' season-opener against Melbourne on March 18.

A six-goal-to-one third term sealed the victory as the efforts of Roos youngsters Paul Curtis, Harry Sheezel and Nick Larkey were not enough to keep up the pressure.

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