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Marcus Bontempelli Calf 6 weeks Bailey Dale Quad Test Liam Jones Hamstring 6 weeks Jason Johannisen Hamstring 8-10 weeks Ed Richards Calf Test Anthony Scott Knee Test Adam Treloar Calf 3 weeks Cody Weightman Knee 10 weeks Rhylee West Hamstring Test Updated: March 4, 2025 FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Bulldogs set for boost as gun duo eye round one
A pair of gun Bulldogs could be ready to face the Kangaroos in round one
By Riley Beveridge
THE WESTERN Bulldogs are hopeful of being bolstered by the return of All-Australian defender Bailey Dale for their round one clash against North Melbourne, with Ed Richards also firming as a likely inclusion.
Dale made it through the entirety of a significant training session at the Whitten Oval on Friday, having also completed a VFL scratch match on managed minutes over the weekend, in his bid to return from a quad issue.
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Richards, who has been battling a calf injury since last month that sidelined him for the side's AAMI Community Series fixture, completed the majority of Friday morning's training session and is another edging towards proving his fitness.
Rhylee West appears another certain starter, having struggled with a hamstring injury in recent weeks, while Adam Treloar also took part in the bulk of Friday's drills as he continues his return from calf issues.
The successful session eases the injury burden at the Whitten Oval, with initial fears that coach Luke Beveridge could be without the entire top five of last season's best and fairest for their round one bout with the Kangaroos.
Marcus Bontempelli (calf) and Liam Jones (hamstring) are still expected to be sidelined until at least Gather Round, though Dale and Richards increasingly appear likely starters while Treloar is tracking nicely.
Jason Johannisen (hamstring) and Cody Weightman (knee) are the Bulldogs' other long-term injury concerns, while Laitham Vandermeer (concussion) and Anthony Scott (knee) were also restricted to running laps on Friday.
The club's former No.1 pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan completed the entire session as he returns from personal leave granted by the club in December, though his return playing date remains unknown.
The Bulldogs are set to take at least one AFL debutant into their round one fixture, with last season's mature-aged recruit Sam Davidson a lock to feature, with father-son prospect Jordan Croft also an outside chance to earn a call-up.
The Bulldogs take on North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium in round one on March 15.FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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Players may need to get used to the extra demands of the new fitness coach. Over the years we have seen how fit he had GWS. This may take some time for players to adapt but already the young guys in particular look so much fitter and stronger. GWS were most p’d off he left.Comment
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“We’re looking around that vicinity”: Bontempelli on return from injury
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli says he is eyeing a return against reigning premier Brisbane in Gather Round.
Bontempelli suffered a complex calf injury in the Dogs’ AAMI Community Series match against Hawthorn, ruling him out of the first few weeks of the 2025 season.
Speaking to Garry Lyon and Tim Watson as part of the Club’s annual Bulldogs Blitz, the 29-year-old said he was hoping to return by Gather Round.
“The good thing is that I feel great and really confident in our team from a medical perspective. I think the important part is obviously to get it right so there’s no issues down the track,” Bontempelli said.
“Hopefully (my return) is around 5-6 weeks. We’re looking in that vicinity.
“Where that takes us to is around Brisbane in Gather Round – in or around there is what we’re hoping.
“I wouldn’t expect to be getting out there before that period.”
Bontempelli also addressed his contract was not the priority at the moment.
“The injury throws a bit of a curveball in there that I wasn’t expecting, but you have to think of things on a personal level and canvass what the future might look like,” he said.
“I think for me, it’s really come down to priorities. I’ve spoken to (manager) Tommy Petroro about it probably irregularly to be honest; he knows at the minute my focus is elsewhere.”
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Bontempelli also addressed his contract was not the priority at the moment.
“The injury throws a bit of a curveball in there that I wasn’t expecting, but you have to think of things on a personal level and canvass what the future might look like,” he said.
This comment has me a little bit spooked.
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Deep Heat Medical Room: Round 1
A raft of players are a chance to feature in Saturday night’s Round 1 clash.
A raft of regular Bulldogs are a chance to feature in Saturday night’s Round 1 clash with North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
Ed Richards, Bailey Dale and Rhylee West will need to get through main training on Thursday before putting their hand up to be selected.
The trio have been in main training for over a week, having missed the clash against Hawthorn in Tasmania a fortnight ago.
Laith Vandermeer is also expected to be available for selection after recovering from concussion in that fixture, while skipper Marcus Bontempelli remains several weeks away as he recovers from a calf setback sustained in the same practice match.
“Although Marcus had low level acute symptoms at the time, both scans and clinical findings after the game confirmed a complex calf injury that involve parts of the calf that are prone to having recurrent issues,” Head of Sports Medicine Chris Bell said.
“It’s because of this that we need to be very calculated with his conservative management plan, but he has been progressing well since his injury.
“He has started his rehab and is back on the track, so we will update his return-to-play plan over the coming weeks but can expect to see him back in the next 5-6 weeks.”
Defensive duo Liam Jones and Jason Johannisen are tracking well following their respective hamstring injuries.
“Both Liam and JJ have continued to progress well following their high-grade hamstring injuries,” Bell said.
“They are completing a significant amount of running reconditioning and are both progressing towards higher speed running across the next two weeks.
“We will then consolidate a block of unrestricted football training, with the current expectation that they return to availability in the next 4-6 weeks.”
Adam Treloar is also closing in on a return to play.
“Adam had multiple minor niggles across the December and January period that led to him missing a big portion of his pre-season training. We are conscious to make sure that we facilitate a base of training that allows Adam to consistently perform,” Bell said.
“He has started to build a nice base of consistent training and will continue to execute a pre-season football conditioning model across the next 3-4 weeks.”
injury.png Comment
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Interesting. Last week's report on the AFL site had Treloar as 3 weeks (now 4-6), Jones as 6 weeks (now 3-5, fingers crossed for 3!) and Scott as test (now 2-4, must have had a setback).
Also the first official report we've had on Jaques, happy for them to be conservative with a first year player.Comment
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My guess, Bont won't make gather round. Bont will push for it.
2 weeks after that.
They will be very carefulComment
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Treloar just hasn't done the same amount of work in terms of running and continuity compared to previous set-backs. Seems like R4 or R5 is around the mark.
There isn't a lot of good news stories from this update.Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"Comment
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In the mix
Richards, Dale and West all face fitness tests on Thursday after late pre-season interruptions. All three are on track to face North Melbourne, while Vandermeer is also expected to be available. Bontempelli is still at least five weeks away from playing after suffering a calf injury. Jones and Treloar are pushing to be available ahead of schedule. – Josh GabelichFFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.Comment
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JOD broken jaw.and you'd expect Cleary to miss significant time. Next man up I guessComment
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I hope Cleary is ok and makes a fast recovery. That was a shocking collision.
JOD out - Buku in ?
Will Busslinger Debut ?Comment
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