Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says he’ll take no risks with Marcus Bontempelli who remains under an injury cloud for Thursday night’s game.
Bontempelli hyperextended his knee in Friday’s loss to Geelong and has been on light duties at training this week. On Wednesday night, he was named in the Dogs’ 23 for the game.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday morning, Beveridge said: “We’ll give him right up until the death. We’ve had two six-day turnarounds … there’s a couple of boys who are a little bit sore.
“Ultimately they’ll play if there’s no risk that they’ll injure what they’re sore with, but if there’s any concern that they’ll be impeded or that discomfort might turn into an injury, then they won’t play.”
Meanwhile, the Dogs confirmed young ruckman Lachie Smith will debut on Thursday night against Sydney.
He is a 20-year-old who was taken with pick 47 in the 2023 AFL Draft, putting together consistent form in the VFL and playing a key role in the premiership side that downed Southport in last year’s Grand Final.
Geelong coach Chris Scott provided an update on Gryan Miers’ knee injury albeit without being able to put in place a timeline.
Scott said: “I’m taking the approach that I think everyone else should take, and that is to just be patient and wait until the experts have made their assessment – which they haven’t done yet.
“I understand that there’s a little bit of information out there, and I’m not going to add to that speculation. Except to say, that there’s room for an open mind on this one.
“He’s not available this week, so he’s not dominating my thinking. I’ll be brought in at the right time … once there’s some decision to be made, then I’m sure I’ll be brought across it.”
Sydney has revealed defender Will Edwards and small forward Billy Cootee will make their debuts on Thursday night too.
Edwards was recruited as a Category B Rookie in the 2022 Rookie Draft. He has played 44 VFL games largely across half back and had 21 disposals and 9 marks in the VFL last weekend.
Cootee is a 179cm small forward who kicked 3 goals in the VFL last weekend. He’s a mature-age pick from Norwood, taken with pick 42 in the 2025 Draft.
The Swans will be without Isaac Heeney due to calf tightness. Sydney’s update said: “He did not travel with the team to Melbourne today and won’t play against the Bulldogs due to calf tightness.”
Richmond confirmed debuts for small forward Tom Burton and high draft pick Sam Cumming, following a pre-season shoulder injury.
Burton is a SSP signing for the Tigers, averaging 29.6 disposals for the Western Jets in the Talent League last year.
Cumming went with pick 7 in the 2025 AFL Draft. After his shoulder injury, he impressed with 30 disposals in the VFL last week.
Sean Darcy will miss an extended period with a calf issue, meaning Mason Cox will have a longer run in the side alongside Luke Jackson.
On Jackson’s role, Freo coach Justin Longmuir said: “We’ve liked that (two ruckman) policy because it gives Luke an opportunity to play in other positions,.
“It gives us more flexibility to move the magnets around in game as well. I was pretty happy with (Cox’s) game on the weekend. He just didn’t maximise his opportunities.”
