Both the Bombers and Bloods – highly-touted as Hampden league premiership contenders – are winless after two rounds.

Dare was forced to sit on the bench for the final quarter of Cobden’s 40-point loss to South Warrnambool on Saturday night.

The three-time Maskell Medal winner felt it in the second term and battled on in the ruck in the third against reigning league best and fairest winner Manny Sandow before succumbing to the injury.

“It’s been nagging at me for a while,” Dare said.

“I hurt it the week before round one but got through OK. It started to grab in the second quarter (against the Roosters) and I tried to get through.

“I’ve never done one before so I didn’t know what to do. It’s because of the graft from the knee reco. Hopefully it’s not too serious. It was pretty bad after the game. I iced it up. It was grabbing when I was sitting down.”

Cobden was without Thomas Spokes, who booted three goals in round one, against South Warrnambool after an infected leg forced him to spend time in hospital. Dare said Spokes suffered a leach bite.

The Bombers expect midfielder Angus Uwland to be available for round three selection after overcoming an ankle complaint.

Uwland could be elevated straight into the seniors or return via the reserves.