Jake Stringer and Luke Dahlhaus loom as likely inclusions for Friday night’s top-eight clash against Geelong at Simonds Stadium, set to return from respective AC joint and knee injuries.
A weekend return also looks likely for promising small forward Toby McLean, who will resume full training this week after being sidelined with a foot injury, while Dale Morris is also in the selection mix despite not playing out the second half of Saturday night’s match.
The positive news from the medical room comes after a tough Saturday night for the Club, with Jack Redpath and Mitch Wallis both succumbing to season ending injuries.
“It’s really pleasing after such a difficult weekend to have some good news around Luke Dahlhaus and Toby McLean,” Western Bulldogs GM Football Graham Lowe told westernbulldogs.com.au.
“They’re going to both training fully this week with a view to being available for selection this weekend.”
Stringer will be another to return to full training this week, after making a quick recovery from an AC joint injury incurred against the Gold Coast Suns in Round 17, and looks set to resume his role in front of goal for the Bulldogs.
Veteran defender Dale Morris will be closely monitored this week, with medical staff to give him every opportunity to line up against the Cats.
“Dale had some back related hamstring tightness which came on in the second quarter (against St Kilda),” Lowe said.
“We made a conservative decision to manage him so he didn’t play out the rest of the game.”
“We’ll give Dale every opportunity to be available for selection this week.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Mitch Wallis has undergone surgery to repair the broken leg suffered in Saturday night’s loss to St Kilda.
“Mitch has had successful surgery yesterday, he’s had a plate put onto his tibia,” Lowe said.
“That will be removed at some point, and then he’ll progress his rehab from there.
“We’ve got our support around Mitch, and he’s in as good spirit as he can be, and we look forward to welcoming him back in to the Club as soon as he can (join us in here).”
Also set to undergo surgery this week is power forward Jack Redpath.
The 25-year-old will have a traditional reconstruction on the right knee he injured against the Saints.
“Jack has had it confirmed by scans that he has got an isolated ACL injury to his right knee, which is the opposite knee to his previous two ACL’s that he had before joining the Club,” said Lowe.
“We’ll work with Jack (through his rehab), and we know he’ll work hard to get himself back and into the best possible shape.”
