Dogs are under a strain but hopeful

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge hopes they have dodged a Covid outbreak despite Anthony Scott entering health and safety protocols on Thursday.

Scott (inset) joins the Bulldogs’ lengthy list of unavailable players, including Tim English, Alex Keath, Josh Bruce, Lachie Hunter and Mitch Hannan.

All other players and staff tested negative to the virus after reigning premier Melbourne lost coach Simon Goodwin and important trio Luke Jackson, Kozzy Pickett and Tom Sparrow this week.

The good news is that Laitham Vandermeer (hamstring) is fit again, while Mitch Wallis is ready to play after the birth of his second child, William, followed the tragic loss of his mother-in-law.

“Obviously, the tragedy can never be totally offset by the birth of a child but the joy in that is overwhelming,” Beveridge said.

“Mitch is desperate to play football now and he’ll definitely be playing at either AFL or state league level.”

There is still a lengthy road ahead for Hannan (concussion), with Beveridge labelling him out indefinitely and warning it was “going to be a slow one”.

English (hamstring) is also unlikely to be ready to play next week against Port Adelaide but should be ready to face Collingwood in round 9, Beveridge said. There is also optimism about Bruce (ACL) and prized father-son draftee Sam Darcy (foot), back doing some training with the main group. Bruce could return immediately after the club’s round 13 bye – if not earlier – while Darcy is aiming to play at second-tier level before the bye.

Beveridge remains bullish about his side’s prospects this season as it tries to recover from a 2-4 start, with Essendon up next at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

“I think regardless of the ins and outs and the casualties along the way; we still believe that we’re capable of winning every week,” he said.