Bulldogs youngster Nathan Hrovat and coach Brendan McCartney question a costly umpiring decision Western Bulldogs coach, Brendan McCartney, says despite the loss he feels his side is on the right track. Young gun ... Nathan Hrovat was outstanding for Western Bulldogs. THE Western Bulldogs were last night left reeling after a likely season-ending knee injury to Clay Smith and a pair of umpiring howlers that cost them a chance to defeat Essendon. The Dogs fought hard to knock off the premiership contenders but two key moments within ten minutes in the last term had severe short and long-term consequences. Nathan Hrovat's goal brought the Dogs within six points 12 minutes into the last term after Brendon Goddard was caught holding the ball, but the umpire did not pay advantage and recalled the kick. Five minutes later Smith hurt himself in a marking collision against Dyson Heppell, and while the Essendon player kicked the sealer the Dogs midfielder was carried off and will require a 12-month recovery. Hrovat, fantastic with 25 possessions, said even the Essendon players were surprised by the non-advantage call. There was no Jobe Watson for Essendon, but the Bombers didn't miss their injured skipper too much, recording a 31-point win over a determined Western Bulldogs. "I got the ball off Dal (Luke Dahlhaus) and was lucky enough to get a bit of space and kick the goal," he said. I knew the call would be (holding the ball) so I thought, 'why not try to get a goal here,' and I honestly don't know why it wasn't called advantage. I think a lot of players out on the ground including the Essendon players didn't know, but I guess the umpire has his reasons to bring it back and that's the game. The Dogs were also left frustrated by a Jake Melksham goal kicked while he was a metre out of bounds, with the umpire only metres away. Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney acknowledged Essendon's class in the 31-point win but was mystified by the recalled goal. I don't know why the decision was called. I honestly don't," he said. There was a lot happening at the time. It just seemed a little surprising. It seemed a couple of times today when we might need an ounce of luck we didn't get it. But for all that, whenever we got a bit of momentum they were good enough to do something about it and kick a goal. It's why they are a very good team. We are showing signs not every week but we have shown some signs we are on the right track. McCartney was resigned to Smith being forced into a long-term recovery given the doctor's prognosis of a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. They are thinking it's the big one, but we will know more tomorrow. He hurt himself trying to stop his man getting the ball. We will find out tomorrow but it doesn't look great. He is a strong kid, a mentally incredibly strong person and he will bounce back. Forgotten forward Jarrod Grant was recalled for his first game of the year and impressed with 19 possessions, but McCartney put the heat on some of his young charges to fast-track their development. "We think our boys getting around 50 games now, their next 50 games have to progress a lot quicker so they have an influence in games," he said. Once you have your apprenticeship and maturity arises you have to produce I don't know that we are trialling players, we will play them to play a role and do what the team needs but they have to be doing the right things. Young Tutty (Jason Tutt) showed a bit and Luke Dalhaus (three goals) and Tom Liberatore (11 clearances) showed something. We are confident our development program is tracking the right way.