Williams ready to go for Bulldogs this weekend

By Jennifer Witham
5:28 PM Mon 22 June, 2009

Western Bulldogs defender Tom Williams is expected to be available for selection for Sunday's clash with North Melbourne despite being hampered by back tightness during Williamstown's 61-point win over Geelong on Saturday.

Williams, 22, was playing his first game in almost a month after overcoming a persistent plantar fascia injury.

While the Bulldogs confirmed Williams suffered back soreness during the VFL hit-out at Burbank Oval, they said he was expected to be in the selection mix for Sunday's AFL clash with North Melbourne.

"He had some tightness but he's fine," general manager of football James Fantasia said on Monday.

"The foot is all good now, so he'll be available. Selection will happen on Wednesday and he'll be in contention."

Fantasia said Ayce Cordy had escaped serious neck damage after an incident that saw him taken from the field in a neck brace.

"Concussion was the only concern in the end, and sometimes you've just got to wait and see," he said.

"Whenever there is a neck involved, people get worried about it, which is why they erred on the side of caution and took him off in the brace because of the way he came down on it. But he got X-rayed and everything was fine."

Fantasia said Tim Callan would also be monitored this week after suffering another concussion against Geelong while utility Stephen Tiller would miss two weeks with a hip flexor strain.

Young defender Paul O'Shea will play his first game for the year next weekend after finally overcoming a hip injury that required surgery on the eve of the season.

"He's been a long-term injury so that's good news for him," Fantasia said.

"We won't play him this week but he'll line up for Williamstown next week."