BOTH St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs have found themselves one short on the bench before the end of the first quarter on Saturday night after separate incidents resulting in concussions to youngsters.

The Saints lost Josh Battle, 19, while the Bulldogs were without Roarke Smith, 21, after both came to grief by midway through the opening term.

Battle, playing just his sixth AFL game, had just kicked the ball when Dogs veteran Dale Morris’ bumping attempt went wrong and they clashed heads.

Battle was soon ruled out of the game at Etihad Stadium.

About 10 minutes later, 11th-gamer Smith was tackled hard from behind by Jack Newnes and remained motionless for some time after his head hit the turf.

It was another unfortunate setback for Smith, who was ruled out of the Bulldogs’ clash with Port Adelaide in Ballarat last round after he and teammate Kieren Collins were involved in a car accident, in which Smith received a cut to his head.