The Western Bulldogs returned from their pre-season camp in Warrnambool with a lengthy session in blistering heat at Whitten Oval on Monday.
Practice matches against opposition clubs are a fortnight away as the Dogs look to avenge their grand final defeat to Melbourne, after they led by 19 points halfway through the third quarter.
They are relatively healthy but coach Luke Beveridge still has decisions to make on various players, including the tall timber up forward and in the ruck.
Here’s what we noticed during the session.
Main group returns imminent
Western Bulldogs stars Adam Treloar and Cody Weightman remain on modified duties but are creeping closer to rejoining full training.
They joined first-year rookie Charlie Parker and veteranxjmtzyw Taylor Duryea in running laps at one stage during a testing, two-and-a-half-hour session.
Ex-Magpie Treloar has a long history with soft-tissue setbacks, while prized forward Weightman is building back to full health after post-season foot surgery.
Young pup Weightman, in particular, was bouncing around once he was unleashed towards the end of training and lived up to his deadeye dick reputation with a series of accurate shots at goal.
Treloar took part in some light ground drills without overextending himself, with reappointed captain Marcus Bontempelli tipping that both were “not far away”.
“The Covid stuff is still interrupting (players) at different points, with blokes sometimes missing a week here and there, so it’s not going to be fully aligned all the time,” Bontempelli said.
“You’re just sort of managing blokes back in after spending some time away … but I think they’re pretty close to being back into full training within the next week or two.”
Sam Darcy (foot stress fracture) and Josh Bruce and Toby McLean, who are both receiving from ACL tears, are the Bulldogs’ longer-term injuries.
No rush on Darcy
There is no timeline on when father-son prodigy Sam Darcy will be back as he recovers from a foot stress fracture but triple All-Australian Jack Macrae is preaching patience.
The Bulldogs matched the Giants’ bid on Darcy at No.2 in last year’s AFL draft but knew before that he was dealing with the foot issue.
He completed his first outdoor run since then in mid-January and is being brought along cautiously.
“I don’t think there’s any rush on it. He has the right appetite for what he‘s brought,” Macrae said.
“Injuries are part of footy and as cliche as it is, he’s just controlling what he can and … he’s missed a lot of footy through Covid as well.
“Everyone forgets the under-18 (NAB League) program has been compromised the most out of all of them. They’ve all missed a lot of footy and you’ve just got to be a bit patient.”
Richards one to watch
Ed Richards is sometimes the forgotten young gun at the Kennel.
Blessed with great pace and a lethal left boot, Richards rocketed up the draft board to be a top-20 selection in 2017.
The 22-year-old played 58 games in his first three seasons – showing some great glimpses in that time – but a serious ankle injury limited him to five matches in 2021.
Richards looked sharp at training on Monday, with his laser-like kicking a standout. But where will Luke Beveridge play him?
The ruck dilemma
Stefan Martin and Jordon Sweet will both hope to play plenty of senior football this year, alongside emerging tower Tim English.
Sweet turned his back on rival interest to re-sign in October for two years despite playing only five games last season and none after Round 11.
English was drafted as a ruckman but has enjoyed success as an interceptor and was used as a forward down the stretch last year, especially once Josh Bruce suffered his knee injury.
The 24-year-old’s field kicking was on full display in drills on Monday and it remains to be seen where he will play most of his football in 2022.
Martin is likely in his final season and Sweet will be keen for more senior opportunities.
Where does West fit?
Another son-of-a-gun, Rhylee West, received plenty of praise from teammates for his training contributions but his path to the senior side looks a tough one.
The Dogs have as much midfield depth as any club going around – just ask new Pie Patrick Lipinski – and he doesn’t have the zip typically associated with successful small forwards.
But there’s never a shortage of effort from West, whose contract expires at season’s end. He has a big year ahead.
