Injuries soured what was a great contest between Merrivale and Panmure at Merrivale on Saturday.
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The Bulldogs recorded a thrilling 9.10 (64) to 7.10 (52) victory.
Merrivale captain Jack Gleeson is set for a long stint on the sidelines after sustaining a wrist injury.
"Unfortunately, we lost our skipper, he is in surgery as we speak," coach Josh Sobey said post-match.
"It's either a dislocated wrist or break, it's not good.
"We wish him all the best."
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Sobey added the Tigers lost Mitch Annett to a knee injury in the first quarter.
Panmure mentor Chris Bant said Jacob Moloney also went to hospital with a wrist injury sustained in the second quarter.
"Hoping it's a sprained wrist but don't think it will be," he said.
Bant added forward Ben Robertson also hyperextended his knee and limped off in the fourth term.
The Tigers were missing a host of stars for the clash.
Sobey said many teams had injuries following the year-long break due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I think every team, if you speak to anyone at the moment - COIVD has had a huge impact injury-wise and they seem to be long-term," he said.
"And I've got no doubt Banty (Chris Bant) and Nirranda and there are a lot of teams with quality players out at the moment.
"So there are opportunities arising for others and we just need to be better at taking them.
"We hope to get players back but we're not going to hang our hat on that, we need to be better as a group from today."
Listen to this week's Main Break podcast episode with Nirranda's Georgia Haberfield.
Otherwise, it was a significant win for the Bulldogs.
"We've got a lot of respect for Merrivale, they're probably similar to us on the ladder so it makes these games sort of eight-point wins," Bant said.
"And when you get challenged all day like that - they just kept coming and coming - to weather the storm and to be in front at the end of the day, was really pleasing."
The Bulldogs had to adjust quickly after losing both their ruckmen.
Boom recruit Daniel Roache was a late withdrawal with gastro and second ruckman, Moloney, left the game through injury.
It meant Bant and defender Tate Gardiner went into the ruck in the second half.
Panmure will face Kolora-Noorat in round six in what shapes up as the match of the round.
Bant feels his group will need to prevent the Power from getting the ball on the outside.
"Their skills are Hampden league level I reckon, I think we can probably match them on the inside but when they get on the outside, that's where we are going to have to be on our game and not give them any easy looks and make them kick to the contest," he said.
Sobey felt his troops didn't come to play.
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