READYMADE Western Bulldogs ruckman Tom Campbell is in line to make his AFL debut after being elevated from the rookie list to replace injured defender Dale Morris.

Morris, who has endured complications in his return from a broken leg suffered late last season, has been placed on the Bulldogs' long-term injury list and will be eligible to return in round 21.

Watch Campbell's NAB CUP highlights reel.

Following the one-match suspension handed out to the Bulldogs' No.1 ruckman Will Minson, Campbell's promotion opens the way for him to get his first taste of AFL football against the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

In Minson's absence, Campbell appears certain to partner Jordan Roughead, with occasional support from forward Ayce Cordy, against former Bulldog big man Ben Hudson.

The 20-year-old's eventual elevation appeared inevitable given his impressive pre-season form, which he has carried into the season proper with the Bulldogs' VFL affiliate Williamstown. He has been one of the standout performers for the Seagulls.

View Campbell's Player Profile.

The 201-centimetre, 101-kilogram big man made his way to Whitten Oval after stints with the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup under-18 competition and VFL side Bendigo Bombers, where he played under current Bulldogs assistant coach Shannon Grant.

Campbell was the No.27 pick in last year's Rookie Draft. In time, it might well be considered a steal.

He showed just how damaging and versatile he could be in his only NAB Cup appearance - against North Melbourne at North Ballarat in late February - when he took three contested marks in attack and kicked a game-high tally of 3.3 in a losing team.

After the match, coach Brendan McCartney was suitably impressed.

"He showed enough [to suggest] that he's going to be able to find the ball forward and be a good, strong ruckman for us," he said.

"Shannon Grant has got to take a lot of credit for Tom - he worked with him last year [and] did a lot of one-on-one work with him.

"He's a good young fella and he's fitted in well as a person.

"They love him in the weights room - he handles the work in there very well."

Earlier, Minson had enthused about Campbell's potential: "I saw Tom Campbell kick a goal from 80 [metres] into the wind off one step the other week in a practice match and that got a few eyes going. I can’t say I've kicked too many into the northerly here at the Whitten Oval, and he did that on a few occasions. So he's an exciting prospect."

Meanwhile, Morris' prospects of making a late-season return have fizzled.

The 29-year-old key backman broke both major bones in his right leg against Essendon at Etihad Stadium in round 21 last year.

He played a quarter with Williamstown's reserves team in early May but pulled up sore, with scans revealing a stress fracture in the fibula - in a different spot to the original break.

In better news for the Bulldogs on the injury front, the club's injury list has defender Tom Williams only a week away from returning after regaining full fitness following a shoulder reconstruction in early March.

Williams, 25, hurt his right shoulder in the NAB Cup clash with Carlton and was placed on the long-term injury list. He has trained strongly in recent weeks.