WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says "sore" runner Matt Suckling remains in the frame for Friday's top-of-the-table blockbuster against undefeated North Melbourne despite landing awkwardly on his right ankle and knee.
The only negative to emerge from the Dogs' 53-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, apart from missed opportunities in front of goal, was Suckling's rare double-blow to his right leg.
Suckling was helped from the field late in the first term after landing awkwardly in a marking contest.
He returned to the field briefly but didn't take any further part after halftime.
"He wrenched his ankle and his knee, and he was a bit concerned initially because that's the knee that he's had reconstructed," Beveridge explained post-match.
"He's just tweaked his medial ligament a little bit, but it was more the ankle that we were concerned (about), so we took him out of business and sat him down because we need him for a lot longer than just tonight.
"We'll see how he comes up. He might be in doubt for next Friday night, but there's no significant structural damage – he's just going to be sore in the knee and the ankle.”
The Bulldogs coach was pleased with how his recast defence coped without Suckling for the majority of the match, along with long-term injured pair in skipper Bob Murphy and Jason Johannisen.
At times the Dogs were forced to use midfielders such as Koby Stevens and Tom Liberatore in the back half, but Beveridge believes a strength of his list is that many players have been schooled to play a variety of roles.
Overall, Beveridge was content with the result, which strengthens his team's hold on second spot with a 4-1 record.
"To have 71 inside 50s and to keep a team to 31 (inside 50s) out here is a tremendous team defensive result," he said.
"It's a shame we didn't capitalise a little bit more, but I think Brisbane are really coming – their recent performances have been top shelf … so we're really satisfied with our performance tonight."
A shoulder injury to Tom Boyd provided ruckman Tom Campbell with an opportunity to play his first game of the season, and he didn't let the Dogs down, in tandem with Jordan Roughead.
Opposed to Stefan Martin, the pair enjoyed a solid preparation for their duel with Kangaroos star Todd Goldstein.
"We were rapt with the way they worked together tonight … We come up against a pretty good ruckman this week and we'll need to be at our best there," Beveridge said.
The Dogs coach acknowledged it had been a big night for returned defender Easton Wood in his first game as acting captain.
Beveridge said that as part of their preparations for the Anzac Day round, the Dogs drew inspiration from a talk from Wood's brother, military Captain McLeod Wood, who has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
