Draftees Ben Cavarra and Laitham Vandermeer have sustained injury setbacks ahead of their debut AFL season.

Cavarra missed Sunday’s VFL practice match due to quad tightness, and is 2-3 weeks away from being available to play, while Vandermeer (4-6 weeks) will miss the start of the season with a hamstring injury.

However, the Bulldogs will have a relatively fit list to choose from heading into round one against the Sydney Swans next Saturday night.

Key forward Tom Boyd (lower back, 6-8 weeks) and running defender Jason Johannisen (ankle syndesmosis) are progressing well with their recovery, and on track to return in the early stages of the season.

Lukas Webb (neck, 3-5 weeks) and Bailey Dale (ankle, 2-3 weeks) are also set to return in the early stages of the season, as are Lin Jong (hamstring) and rookie Buku Khamis (posterior cruciate ligament) who sustained injuries in pre-season match simulation.