THE WESTERN Bulldogs will sweat on scans on premiership ruckman Jordan Roughead's right knee after the big man succumbed to a serious-looking injury in the first quarter of the club's JLT Community Series clash with Melbourne at Whitten Oval.

Melbourne was also dealt an injury blow during the match when defender Josh Wagner dislocated his right fibula after getting his foot stuck in the ground when attempting to tackle Luke Dahlhaus in the second quarter.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said the club's medical staff would have to examine Roughead further to determine the severity of the injury.

"It was a bit of strange one. He went to run and jump and (felt pain) behind the back of the knee," Beveridge said.

"They'll assess it and let us know. But it seemed pretty innocuous the way it happened.

"But I can't give you much on it [because] they're not quite sure what it is yet."

Roughead landed awkwardly on his right leg after a ruck contest against Max Gawn at the end of the first term.

The 26-year-old crumpled to the ground as trainers ran out to assist him, with teammate Tom Boyd immediately signalling for the assistance of the medical team. 

Back-up ruckman Tom Campbell came into the game to replace the injured big man, while Beveridge suggested young ruckman Tim English could help fill the breach if Roughead is sidelined for an extended period of time.

English's athleticism and mobility is a rare commodity for an 18-year-old, 205cm player.

"We'll try to give Timmy a game [in the next JLT Series game against the Brisbane Lions]," Beveridge said, adding the Bulldogs would field a relatively youthful squad for their next pre-season game.

"He's really shown us why our recruiters brought him in with our first pick.

"We think he's got a bright future… if he shows us that over the course of the next few games we might pick him but we'll see how it unfolds."

Matthew Boyd, who was a late withdrawal against the Demons with gastro, Liam Picken (fractured cheekbone), Clay Smith (soreness) and Dale Morris (soreness) are all expected to be available for the Bulldogs' next pre-season game against the Lions on March 2.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said the club was hopeful Wagner would not be sidelined for too long.

"[His fibula] went back in pretty easily and structurally they (the medical team) think it's pretty good," Goodwin said of Wagner's injury.

"He'll be assessed by our medical team during the week but our fingers are crossed and we're hoping for the best.

"It's looking pretty positive at the moment but they're quietly confident with nothing structural there it's just a matter of getting the soreness to go away and getting him back out there playing."

Goodwin said Michael Hibberd (hamstring) and Neville Jetta (quad) would be available for the Demons' clash with Carlton next Saturday, while Dom Tyson (ankle) and Dean Kent (back) are getting closer to returns.

Forward Jack Watts will also be in the mix for the game against the Blues and trained strongly prior to the game after coming off a modified program