After playing more games for his club than any player in history, Western Bullldogs captain Brad Johnson has been heartbreakingly ruled out of the club's first grand final appearance in 40 years against St Kilda in Saturday night's NAB Cup decider.
The 33-year-old is still struggling to overcome an Achilles injury that has prevented him from playing throughout the pre-season and has also been ruled out of the Dogs' opening game of the home and away season against Collingwood.
That match against the Magpies would have been Johnson's 350th game but instead his milestone match is likely to be delayed until Round 2 or even Round 3.
In Johnson's absence, Daniel Giansiracusa will captain the Bulldogs against the Saints on Saturday night as the club aims to win their first senior trophy since winning the old night series competition at South Melbourne in 1970.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said on Wednesday the club just could not afford to risk Johnson at the start of such a long season despite the disappointment of knowing the club's longest serving player could miss out on being part of a pre-season premiership.
"As (former Hawthorn premiership coach) John Kennedy used to say there is no emotion in footy," Eade said.
"At the end of the day we have got to do what is right for the footy team."
Eade said Johnson pulled up sore from training on Tuesday as he tried to increase the intensity of his training in a bid to lead the team on Saturday night.
"There is no real pain with it but he was always going to be touch and go as to whether he would play or not but we are going to err on the side of caution," Eade said.
"Not playing this week means he probably won't play in Round 1 either but it's a long year and want to do the right thing by him."
Eade said Johnson understood the need to focus on the bigger picture despite his disappointment of missing out on the Dogs' first grand final appearance in four decades.
"He would love to play but he knows it's a long year and if you rush him then like any other player he is a chance of then doing another injury and missing another four or five weeks and then if you have a stop start year it really counts against you at the end of the season," he added.
Stand-in captain Giansiracusa said he felt sorry for Johnson but said the skipper would soon bounce back to lead the Dogs in a year in which they are determined to avenge their narrow preliminary final losses of the past two years.
"You feel for anyone that is injured but he is the skipper and we would love him out there and he is obviously a vital player for us but I know the way he goes about it and he is doing everything possible to get himself up and going."
"Obviously I am just warming the seat for him but it's a great honour and I am looking forward to Saturday night."