Western Bulldogs star Jason Johannisen is unlikely to face Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, despite nearing full fitness, while Jackson Trengove has been ruled out with illness.
Johannisen damaged his ankle at training in early February and hasn't featured in the JLT Series or the first two games of the home and away season, but coach Luke Beveridge says the running defender is a stronger possibility of selection against Collingwood next Friday night.
"He'll train today. It's unlikely, but he's close," Beveridge said on Thursday.
"To have him up our sleeve will be a good thing. He has come off long-term injury (before).
“I think he had about nine weeks with a hamstring injury, came straight back into the side and played pretty well, so we've got that to work off from a historical point of view.
"He's a chance to play against Collingwood."
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Back-up ruckman Trengove, who has been consigned to the VFL due to the emergence of Tim English, has gastro and an ankle issue from an incident against Williamstown last Saturday.
The combination will keep him from the club and any football this weekend.
The form of a fully-fit Tom Liberatore has impressed many, including most notably Beveridge.
Of the 24 centre bounces Liberatore has attended in 2019, the Bulldogs have won 19 to highlight his influence around the packs – an influence not lost on the coach.
"There's no doubt he's having a tremendous effect on the way we're playing. It's encouraging the way that he is going about it," Beveridge said.
"I think Tom is almost playing some of the best footy that he has ever played, really. That was the question from being out of the game so long, and he's come up and met those challenges."
