Western Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn says there are plans in place to fill the forward void left by Izzy Huntington and her season-ending knee injury.

Scans confirmed Huntington had ruptured her right ACL graft and damaged her lateral meniscusin the second quarter of Saturday’s loss to Melbourne.

It is the third time that the 22-year-old has suffered an ACL injury.

“It’s a tough one with Iz – you almost can’t replace her,” Blackburn said while co-hosting The W Show with Nat Edwards and Sarah Black.

“She’s the type of player that is so unique in the way she goes about it. Her ability to jump, and fly, and take pack marks is really unique and special.

“We have Bonnie Toogood down there – she’s a great tall player – and we also have Nell Morris-Dalton, who for us is emerging.

“(Nell) is a young star coming through the ranks, and I thought she played really well on the weekend. I have no doubt she’ll step up now.”

Huntington was one of three players to endure an ACL injury in the opening round, with Collingwood’s Brianna Davey and Brisbane’s Kate Lutkins also having their 2022 campaigns cut short.