Fingers crossed for pup
THE Western Bulldogs remain “optimistic” young gun Laitham Vandermeer can recover from a hamstring problem in time for next week’s Grand Final against Melbourne.
As Vandermeer races to be fit for the flag decider in Perth, Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains confirmed scans had cleared the 22-year-old of any serious hamstring damage but he would have to get through full training next week.
But Bains said exciting forward Cody
Weightman would “certainly play” after sitting out the preliminary final due to concussion protocols and the Bulldogs were also confident key defender Alex Keath (hamstring) would be fit to play.
Vandermeer was subbed out of the Bulldogs’ preliminary final win over Port Adelaide with hamstring tightness. After the game, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge described him as “doubtful at the moment” due to his “scary history” with soft tissue injuries.
But Bains said on Wednesday the Bulldogs remained hopeful about his prospects.
“Laith Vandermeer will need to get through full training next week but we are also optimistic on him,” Bains said..
“There are exemptions for genuine medical reasons and scans are allowed in that context. “He was cleared of any structural hamstring damage, he has got a history of hamstring injuries as you would know, he got a corky and felt a bit of tightness so didn’t take any risks, or we didn’t and he didn’t, and came off. “Pleasingly the scan came up clear.” Bains said the extra week’s break would give Keath, who also missed the preliminary final, time to prove his fitness.
“I don’t think I can say with certainty, he has still got to progress through and train at full speed … but the fact that we have got that extra week built in to do it, we are very optimistic that he will be right,” Bains said. “Cody Weightman will certainly play. He will be re-integrated to full contact training this week.”