A returning Liam Jones would be the good tonic for the Western Bulldogs on Friday evening as their key defensive shares proceed to be ravaged by accidents.
The star interceptor will come straight again into the senior facet after eight weeks out following a horrific double fracture to his forearm, as coach Luke Beveridge tries to settle his backline within the wake of a season-ending knee damage to Josh Bruce and a concussion to Alex Keath.
Beveridge confirmed Jones would face Richmond at Marvel Stadium because the Bulldogs attempt to shore up their spot within the high eight after coughing up a 35-point third-quarter lead towards GWS in Ballarat.
The coach mentioned the damage to Bruce, his second ACL rupture in two years, had sapped his teammates’ vitality, whereas the mixed lack of him and Keath had left “too much to do” for the remaining Bulldogs defenders because the Giants sailed house to win by 5 factors and drag the Bulldogs again into the center of the ladder.
“It was a solid first half, but it was a situation where you couldn’t really stabilise, as the players were asked to do too much for too long and couldn’t go the distance,” Beveridge mentioned.
“There’s some promise in that, because obviously they’re going pretty well GWS, but once again for us close enough wasn’t good enough.”
He mentioned the damage had been “traumatic” for Bruce, who missed most of final season after rupturing the ACL in his different knee late in 2021 and enduring an remoted rehab in the course of the pandemic.
The 31-year-old is out of contract on the finish of the season, however Beveridge mentioned the membership had wrapped its arms round him after the sport.
“He goes into surgery (Thursday), Josh … it’s pretty traumatic for him. I think the important thing for him this time around is it was a lonely rehab period during the pandemic last time with the other knee,” Beveridge mentioned.
“Both sides of his family rallied and have come down to support him and (wife) Pip, and Poppy and Augie their kids.”
Beveridge mentioned Ryan Gardner (soreness) and James O’Donnell (concussion) may each line up alongside Jones, though the Bulldogs could also be tempted to depart a tall out as they put together for a Tigers ahead line led by lone key goal Jack Riewoldt.
“Liam will come back into the team when it’s announced (Thursday) afternoon – there will be another couple of changes,” he mentioned.
Ed Richards (sickness) is predicted to return after lacking the Giants conflict, whereas Beveridge mentioned Sam Darcy had not “turned a corner” but after a extreme cork that precipitated inner bleeding however didn’t rule out a return for the father-son prospect sooner than his listed absence of three to 5 weeks.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
