With skipper Matthew Boyd missing his third game with a fractured cheekbone, and just six days after Clay Smith's season-ending knee injury against Essendon, it was the loss of another important player amid a strong performance against a premiership contender.
"It seems like it's a broken arm (for Goodes), just caught in between a contest and a teammate," Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said after the match.
"We're running games out pretty strongly but we keep breaking bones.
"We've made some terrific steps in the last two weeks."
"In the last month we've hung in and hung in and hung in and we'll get a win soon if we keep doing that."
Despite the run with injuries McCartney was satisfied with his side’s desire in and around the contest, particularly their ability to stop Hawthorn’s run and carry – and to compete fiercely at all times.
“We can put pressure on the opposition when the game stops and get the ball going our way,” he said.
“The next step in the evolution of our team and the people who are just learning the game, when there’s a five minute patch (and) you’ve got to defend your backside off… we’ll do that. It means you mightn’t score for a while, but they don’t score.
“I’m enjoying seeing and working with a team that doesn’t lie down and wants to keep fighting.”
One player who never drops his head is star Ryan Griffin, the midfielder winning the praise of his coach and the admiration of everyone who witnessed the 26-year-old’s 37-possession, two goal performance.
“He’s quite clearly our most dynamic player, he’s nearly our most courageous player, he’s nearly our toughest player and he’s certainly our most consistent player,” McCartney said.
“He wants to play in a winning team, too.
“He’s at an interesting stage in his career. His first four or five years he was able to play in a lot of wins because he was the young fella and the older boys did most of the work. The role is reversed and he’s thriving on it.
“He’s just emerging into a fantastic leader as well. He’s emerged. ‘Emerging’ is probably selling it short. He’s just leading brilliantly as well.”
Despite his obvious value to the team, Griffen’s place at the Bulldogs has been the subject of conjecture in recent weeks, some pundits suggesting the mature midfielder would be perfect trade bait for the vaunted first draft pick, currently held by GWS.
On current form it would appear a huge risk to consider trading the star player, but it looms as an option the Bulldogs may be forced to consider as the season progresses and their lack of a dominant marking forward becomes increasingly obvious.
