At least three changes will be made to the Bulldogs side as they approach their clash with Melbourne on Sunday, including captain Ryan Griffen who has been ruled out through injury.

Senior Coach Brendan McCartney revealed today that Griffen will be joined by Jordan Roughead and a suspended Daniel Giansiracusa on the sidelines when they take on the Demons.

After being substituted out of last week’s game against Port Adelaide with back spasms, the Bulldogs captain was ruled out by Club medical staff for this weekend’s match.  

McCartney, however, is hopeful Griffen’s will be in line for selection against Geelong the following Sunday.

“Ryan won’t play this week and he will be available when he can train and play and the medical staff will let us know that but he’s improved significantly,” McCartney said.

“He had a back spasm, nothing sinister. It’s a different injury to what he had in the pre-season.

“We are optimistic that this time next week we will have him up and going.”

McCartney praised the courage shown by Roughead this season after contending with a shoulder injury, which flared up against Port Adelaide last week.

The defender will be given a week off to allow his shoulder to settle before determining his availability in the senior side.

“He’s been so brave, Roughie, all year. The AC joint was a one off injury but he’s battled manfully,” McCartney said.

“He’s in a position now where we will let it settle for a week, he won’t play this week, see where it’s at and then make a decision.”

“We will be guided by the specialists and the doctors, there will be no risk with his long term health but if he can play well, he wants to be out there and we will put him out there.”

Jarrad Grant was another casualty in the round 14 loss to Port and McCartney said the forward would be put through medical test before he is declared fit.

“He had some concussion, so rules are rules and that ruled him out of the game and rightly so,” he said.

“We will assess him today he’s going to train and then make a decision - we’ve had a pretty good strike rate at erring on the side of conservative when we’ve had concussed players.

“More often than not the players come in at the end of the week and say ‘look I think that’s a pretty good decision because I don’t feel quite right’.”