BRAD Johnson says the Western Bulldogs have the perfect learning tool if, as expected, they get the worst possible news on injured skipper Robert Murphy.

Johnson, who played 364 games for the Bulldogs, said the club experienced a similar situation in the opening round of 2003 when Chris Grant suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Murphy is thought to have ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the final minute of Sunday's loss to Hawthorn and if so, would miss the remainder of 2016.

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Speaking on Melbourne radio station RSN927, Johnson said the Bulldogs couldn't let the bad news affect the team for the rest of the season.

"He'll be a big loss to the group, no question," Johnson said.

"I go back to when Chris Grant did his knee … it just had a huge impact on us as a playing group, just flattened the group.

"We didn't really recover for the remainder of that year.

"I think the club as a whole will learn from that.

"Granty is still involved at the Bulldogs and he'll certainly remind people you can't let these things affect you as a playing group."

Johnson said from a purely playing point of view, the Bulldogs could cover Murphy's loss at half-back.

Former Demon David Schwarz, himself a victim of three knee reconstructions, had some advice for Murphy, saying he should opt for traditional surgery rather than the quick-fix LARS.

"The rigours the knee is put under, LARS is almost a band-aid for an ACL," Schwarz said on Melbourne radio station SEN.

"I still think if he comes back at the start of next year, he's got three years left.

"His body is still in really good condition, he's playing a role off half-back that doesn't get him bashed around too much.

"I still think he's got a lot of footy left in him."