Former All-Australian Adam Treloar is no guarantee to return to a red-hot Western Bulldogs side against Essendon this Sunday.
Despite a dominant performance in his last VFL match where Treloar collected 33 disposals, nine score involvements and five tackles, the 33-year-old winger-midfielder will be part of a pack of Dogs looking to push their way into the second-placed side, according to coach Luke Beveridge.
"(Treloar) will be considered," Beveridge said.
"There's no doubt about it. He is getting into that space where he is close, there are a number of boys who have prepared and played well over the month or so with Footscray. Where he is in that pecking order, I can't really tell you at the moment, but he will be considered.
"We are likely to make more than one change (for the match against Essendon)."
Dogs star Cody Weightman continues to build his body and fitness after more than a year on the sidelines.
The talented small forward has had a horror run with injury, but Beveridge said he is buoyed by how Weightman is tracking.
"(Weightman) is still building, but he is getting through a lot more training," he said.
"Very, very encouraging. I think we forget what sort of a player Cody is, he is such an influential player for us. So to miss him for a whole year and then the prospect of him playing again in maybe a month or so is quite exciting for everyone."
The Dons were bullied by the Dogs in 2025, with the margins across the two teams' fixtures last year being 91 and 93 in the Bulldogs' favour.
After a poor start to the season Essendon coach Brad Scott is already under the pump just three games in.
Beveridge said it is critical for coaches to focus internally when under the media microscope.
"I always think (the commentary and ridicule surrounding coaches) goes too far," he said. "But that's the acceptance that we have to have as senior coaches.
"The important thing for all of us in these positions is that we don't let it unsettle us. I have talked historically about staying in the tent and just taking care of things we can influence and control and I'm sure the coaches at the moment who are publicly spoken about in a negative sense are doing that.
"They are well equipped to, they have been in the game long enough and hopefully, for their sake, they come out of it, but just not for the Bombers this weekend."
