The Western Bulldogs are set to receive a boost after the bye weekend, with Adam Cooney one of five injured players a chance to return to the senior side.
After spending two weeks rehabilitating a hamstring injury, Cooney will rejoin full training next week with the expectation he will be available for selection against Collingwood, Medical Services Manager Andrew McKenzie said.
“Cooney is running really well, he has picked up his speed testing and we look to get him back into training at the end of this week and full training for round 12 next week,” McKenzie said.
A corked thigh limited Koby Stevens’ output in the Port Adelaide clash on Saturday, but Mckenzie said the midfielder would be monitored during the week and shouldn’t miss any games through injury.
“He corked his thigh during the game and was struggling later during the second half,” he said.
“We have imaged that just to have a look and it looks reasonably good, so hopefully we will monitor him over the next week and see how he goes through training the following week.”
Tory Dickson is also close to an AFL return after an ankle injury restricted him to the sidelines since round three.
“Dickson is back into full training so we expect him to be available after the bye as well,” McKenzie said.
The mature aged recruit’s return will further bolster the Bulldogs forward stocks, with Dickson proving his worth in his debut season last year, kicking 23 goals from 18 games.
Ayce Cordy and Lin Jong are also making strides in their rehabilitation programs with their respective leg injuries.
“Ayce is also out on the track running, he’s started well and he’s feeling comfortable, so we are at a good place with him,” he said.
“Lin has started running as well with the fracture of his fibula, he’s also pulled up nicely and we will progress him from here.”
A calf injury that plagued Matthew Boyd last week forcing him to miss the Darwin clash will be monitored closely over the bye weekend as he increases his training workload.
Mckenzie said the captain was also a chance to return against Collingwood, while Tom Young who also suffered a calf injury was looking at two to three weeks on the sidelines.
“Boydy hurt his calf last week, we will expect him to have a slow week this week and will progress him through training next week and we are hopeful we will have him available by the following game,” he said.
“Tom also presented with the same issues as Boydy, his calf was a little bit worse when we imaged it and we expect him to miss two or three weeks.”
The Bulldogs are currently waiting on scan results for the extent of Tom Williams’ shoulder injury.
