The Western Bulldogs are not yet dreaming of partnering emerging star Aaron Naughton with former No.1 pick Tom Boyd in what looms as a promising young forward line.
Boyd returned from a debilitating back injury that prematurely ended his 2018 season through the VFL last week, winning eight disposals and 19 hit-outs.
However, according to coach Luke Beveridge, the premiership-winning forward remains "a long way back" as the club continues to take a cautious approach with his recovery.
Naughton enjoyed a breakout game in the Dogs' upset 47-point victory over the Tigers on Saturday night, booting five goals from 14 marks and nine contested grabs.
"It's a long way in the future," Beveridge said.
"Tom is coming from a long way back. I'm probably going to have to keep hitting play on a recording, because Tom has missed a lot of footy.
"We're hoping maybe in the back end of the year, he might become available, but we're not banking on that happening within the next two months.
"He's got a lot of footy to play, a lot of training to do and then he'll have to have some productivity at VFL level to get picked. It's a long way off.
"Schache is probably a fair way ahead of him at the moment. Josh would benefit coming in, but we've got to keep looking at that every week and who is available."
Naughton, who finished fourth in the Dogs' best and fairest playing as a key defender in his maiden AFL season last year, impressed in his new role up forward.
His five majors were a career-high, while his nine contested marks were second only to Wayne Carey's effort back in 2000 for the most taken in a single AFL game.
Doubts have been raised as to whether Naughton should be moved back into defence after a lean patch, though Beveridge felt justified in his decision to retain him as a forward.
"I know I get criticised at times for playing players supposedly out of position," he said.
"But when you spend enough time in the game, you understand that there's certain physical attributes that lend themselves to playing different roles.
"I must say, it's a lot harder to find a prolific key forward and land one on your list than it is to find a solid key back. We know Aaron's a really strong key defender.
"The boys who are in progress and developing aren't quite there yet, and if anyone is going to get there quick there's no doubt it could be Aaron. We've pushed the envelope there."
