FORMER Western Bulldogs rookie James Mulligan is a chance to make his AFL debut on Sunday against Richmond after being named in the Dogs' extended squad.
The 21-year-old is one of five additions to the Bulldogs' side, along with defender Ryan Hargrave, who is a chance to come in for his first AFL game of the year after overcoming a nasty foot injury.
Mulligan and Hargrave have been named in an attempt to bolster the Dogs' backline in the continuing absence of Brian Lake and after this week's loss of Tom Williams to an ankle injury.
The 21-year-old is one of five additions to the Bulldogs' side, along with defender Ryan Hargrave, who is a chance to come in for his first AFL game of the year after overcoming a nasty foot injury.
Mulligan and Hargrave have been named in an attempt to bolster the Dogs' backline in the continuing absence of Brian Lake and after this week's loss of Tom Williams to an ankle injury.
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Hargrave has played just one game of VFL since undergoing two operations on his foot over the summer.
Dylan Addison, Nathan Djerrkura and Tom Liberatore are the others who have been added to the Dogs' seven-man bench that will be trimmed on Friday.
Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said Liberatore was a certain starter in the 22 after being withdrawn from last week's team owing to general soreness.
Williams leaves the side that suffered an eight-point loss to the Sydney Swans in Canberra while Zeph Skinner - who made his AFL debut in the third quarter last week after being substituted on - has been omitted.
Barry Hall (ankle) and Shaun Higgins (groin) have not been named and are at least another week away while Lake will spend another week gathering fitness in the VFL in Williamstown's big clash with Port Melbourne on Saturday.
Eade admitted Hargrave's return was probably a week ahead of schedule but was confident the half-back had the fitness to make a seamless transition from VFL to AFL.
"He's pulled up well after last week's game so he will add a bit of experience and hopefully bit of run out of defence for us," Eade told Bulldogs TV on Thursday night.
Mulligan comes into the mix after showing strong form in the Williamstown seniors at centre half-back.
At 199cm and nearly 100kg, Mulligan is Hall's usual pre-season match-up. He was upgraded to the senior list at the start of last year following two seasons of development at the club as a rookie.
Eade said if the Queenslander didn't make the final side this week, he wouldn't be far away from being considered for a senior berth.
The cast of hit musical Rock of Ages will perform three songs from the '80s ahead of the opening bounce of the Etihad Stadium game on Sunday afternoon.
