An increased depth on the Western Bulldogs list this season has Senior Coach Brendan McCartney confident the team can cover their injury losses against Adelaide on Sunday.

While senior opportunities have emerged through injury, McCartney said a number of Bulldogs listed players have been knocking down the door at VFL affiliate Williamstown for their AFL chance.

“We are confident we have got more depth on our list this year,” McCartney said.

“Our VFL team boys played really well on Saturday [and] played the right brand of footy.”

“[They] all had a terrific impact on the game, so the ones that we do bring in from the VFL are in good form.”

“[It’s] highly likely we will get our captain [Matthew Boyd] back and Ayce [Cordy] will be right to go again.”

McCartney highlighted the performance of first round draftees Jack Macrae and Jake Stringer in Saturday’s VFL clash, and said they were firmly in the mix to make their senior debut this weekend.

“Opportunities present for people and hopefully they will take them,” he said.

“Two of our early picks played really well at Williamstown, so that puts them in the mix obviously, because we envisage four or maybe five changes.

“They both played very well, they are high talent, very early in their career – one of them in particular hasn’t been able to train much because of an ankle injury, so he’s just getting his body accustomed to footy and did an extraordinary job on Saturday.”

After playing his first competitive game in 2013 for Williamstown on the weekend, Tom Williams will remain in the VFL for a second consecutive week to regain touch.

“Probably a week short, [he] played well, [and] needed the game,” he said.

“It was his first game for the year, so to be fair to Tom [we’ll give him] another week to get ready.”