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Lachie Hunter will remain in the Western Bulldogs' Queensland hub while he is unavailable for AFL selection for personal reasons.
Western Bulldogs winger Lachie Hunter will miss Thursday's AFL game against Gold Coast for personal reasons.
The Bulldogs have confirmed Hunter would be unavailable for AFL selection but did not put a time frame on his absence.
Hunter will remain with his teammates at the club's Queensland Hub and trained this week.
"Lachie Hunter is currently unavailable for selection due to personal reasons," the Bulldogs said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The club will continue to strongly support Lachie as he works through some personal challenges, with his health and wellbeing to be the priority focus."
Hunter had played two AFL games since returning from a four-game suspension handed down by the Bulldogs in April for an alleged drink-driving incident during the coronavirus lockdown.
In June, Hunter was charged by Victoria Police over the April 16 incident, when he allegedly crashed into four parked cars in Middle Park.
Teammate Bailey Smith, whose girlfriend's family owned two of the damaged vehicles, drove Hunter to fellow Bulldog Billy Gowers' apartment in South Yarra, where police located him.
Hunter later recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.123.
Hunter and Smith received fines from police for breaching COVID-19 restrictions, while Gowers was given a warning.
Following the incident, the Bulldogs handed Hunter a four-game ban and a $5000 fine, while he relinquished the club's vice-captaincy and stepped down from their leadership group.
The Bulldogs also gave Hunter suspended fines totalling a further $15,000 for "multiple other breaches" and said he would have to undertake mandatory alcohol education and counselling and a form of community service.
Hunter returned to the Bulldogs' AFL side as soon as he was available after his suspension and averaged 26.5 disposals in his two AFL appearances against Carlton and Essendon.
A 2016 premiership player, Hunter has played 131 games for the Bulldogs since making his debut in 2013.
