Coach Jordan Taylor revealed Murray ripped the muscle off the bone in the club's final practice match against Benalla.

It's the Bulldogs' second season-long injury in the pre-season after McKye Turner tore his ACL in an intraclub match at the start of March.

Recruit Isaac Wallace will also miss a big chunk of the year as he makes a patient return from osteitis pubis.

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"He's (Murray) having a bit of bad luck because he's had some shoulder issues as well," Taylor said.

"It's obviously a negative, but one of the positives to come from it is we'll have one (coach) on the bench that can help upstairs and give good feedback.

"Isaac is just about to start running, so I would assume he would be another six weeks away. With OP it's hard to judge."

Despite a limited pre-season under his belt, Taylor will make his Ovens and Murray debut against Corowa-Rutherglen on Saturday in the club's first game of the 2021 campaign.

"I'm a little bit underdone because I haven't done much of pre-season, but I'm feeling 100 per cent outside of my fitness and load," he said.

"I've never played O and M. I'm familiar with the area and the footy being a Finley boy and going through (Murray) Bushrangers, but you just don't know what you're going to get until you start playing."

Taylor previously coached NEAFL club Southport.

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