The Western Bulldogs are hopeful AFLW captain Katie Brennan can make a return to the field before the end of the 2018 season.

Scans have revealed Brennan sustained minor ligament damage to her right ankle – an injury she sustained in the final two minutes of Saturday’s clash against the Adelaide Crows.

“We know Katie will do everything possible to ensure she can get back out there before the end of the season,” said Bulldogs’ AFLW coach Paul Groves.

“While it’s unclear how many weeks she might miss, she has already started working with our medical staff to make sure she recovers at the earliest opportunity.

“As one of our leaders, Katie will be difficult to replace, but the group of players who have missed selection are working extremely hard to be ready for their opportunity,” he said.

“We have great confidence in those players to make an impact at this level, which shows the level of depth in our current playing group.”