WESTERN Bulldogs key defender Marcus Adams' season could be over after he revealed his left foot injury could see him sidelined for 10-12 weeks.

Adams did not return to the field after half-time of the Bulldogs' loss to Sydney last week, and was spotted on Wednesday on crutches arriving back home in Perth to spend time recovering with his family.

The second-year West Australian has succumbed to a serious Lisfranc ligament injury in both his seasons at Whitten Oval, with an injury to his right foot last year ending his debut campaign in round 15.

It's a bitter blow to the premiers, with the hulking 23-year-old regularly holding his own against the opposition's best key forward.

A disappointed Adams said he hoped to return by the end of the home and away season to help the Dogs go back-to-back.

"I think I'm looking at around the 10-12 (week mark) as a best-case (scenario). It will be pushing it," Adams told Channel Seven on Wednesday. 

"Hope we can go deep (into the finals) again, see how we go. 

"The aim is (to return later) in the year, and hopefully we get there this time."

The mature-age recruit, who recently signed a three-year-deal, is due for some luck with foot and finger mishaps limiting him to just 21 games and missing the Dogs' premiership triumph.

He hoped the experience of managing the injury last year would hopefully see him recover quicker this time around.

"It was a similar incident (to last year), I just got my boot caught and a bit of a twist of the foot," Adams said.

"I sort of knew straight away it was the same as last year and it's been a bit of a rough week since.

"The aim is to get back later in the year, with the experience of last year's (injury). 

"We sort of have that knowledge of how to manage it and speed up the process the best we can."

Adams' unavailability is just another headache for coach Luke Beveridge down back, with skipper Robert Murphy nursing a hamstring injury, and key defenders Fletcher Roberts and Zaine Cordy both struggling and dropped to the VFL this season.

Second-year key defender Kieran Collins could be considered for a second senior game, but the 19-year-old hasn't had the most consistent season for Footscray.