Reid, Ward on their way back
Despite missing the team to face Collingwood, Sam Reid is close to a senior return while Callan Ward will resume through the VFL reserves
Williamstown and Bulldogs development coach Peter German said the 20-year-old, who hasn't played since round 22 last year owing to a groin injury, should come into the side very soon after impressing in the VFL and being named as an emergency this week.
"It's only a matter of time now before Sam puts it all together for four quarters and is pushing really hard to play regular AFL footy," he told afl.com.au on Friday.
"He's been getting better each week. He's another player who's had a limited pre-season and he's trying to get a lot of his fitness through playing.
"Last week, the positive sign was he was still running as hard at the end of the game as he was at the start."
Reid will line up for his third game in the Williamstown seniors in their match against Frankston on Sunday.
He has played a total of five games in the VFL since returning from the groin issue, with the first three in the reserves.
German says the midfielder's ability to manage his type one diabetes while on-field, which involves blood sugar monitoring during every rotation, has been exemplary.
"It's not an issue at all from the coach's box," he said.
"He's got his routine and everything is on stand-by. He's well organised with everything and there hasn't been one issue at all.
"He's still aggressive and hard at it and that hasn't changed one bit."
Meanwhile, fellow young gun Callan Ward is poised to make his return from a groin injury this weekend with an appearance for Williamstown reserves.
Ward, 20, has not played since straining his groin in the NAB Cup grand final in March.
"We're not expecting a great deal. We're not putting too much expectation on him," German said.
"He played a couple of pre-season games but since then he's missed a fair bit of footy.
"It's going to be a bit of wait and see in terms of how much he plays but it will probably be around 60 to 70 per cent of the game.
"We don't expect a player to come back after nine weeks off and be the best player.
"We just want him to feel his way. I've got no doubt, being the player he is, he'll have some sort of impact on the game anyway."
German said Ward would probably only need a "few weeks" in the VFL before coming into selection for the Bulldogs' side.