Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says he is pleasantly surprised by the turnaround in veteran midfielder Adam Treloar's recovery from a calf injury.
Treloar's season looked shot when he suffered his latest soft-tissue setback, which has plagued his 2025 campaign.
But the former Giant and Pie, who is out of contract at season's end, is tracking towards a return to football, with Beveridge suggesting a VFL match against Carlton is on the cards.
"He's had a couple of good weeks, almost surprising weeks," Beveridge said.
"Encouraging stuff, to the point where now we can consider him for some state league minutes.
"My philosophy around playing players who are underprepared is they can't compromise the team at any level.
"But we believe that he won't, because he's done the necessary preparations.
"We just need to firm it up; it's still early in the week, and we've got another session on Friday."
Although Treloar won't be suiting up for the senior side that will take on West Coast at Marvel Stadium on Sunday, father-son prospect Jordan Croft will be after the club named him for a debut.
Beveridge also addressed the comments made by assistant coach Brendon Lade about troubled forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
Lade said on 3AW: "The way the VFL (side) is playing at the moment, he might be lucky to get a game."
Ugle-Hagan hasn't been sighted since the 2024 elimination final loss to Hawthorn, flagging personal issues that have seen him away from the club for multiple stints.
However, in a bid to keep his career alive, the former Pick 1 has re-entered the football club in the hope of playing football in 2025.
As for Lade's comments, Beveridge said they were "tongue-in-cheek".
"I think it was more about how well Footscray are going, rather than Jamarra's preparation," Beveridge said.
"'Ladey' will live and learn. That's the thing about taking lines like that in different contexts: it can come back to bite you.
"So he's learned an early lesson, if he's hopefully part of that market for a senior coaching job."
The Bulldogs will need to win their remaining two clashes against the Eagles and Fremantle over the next fortnight to remain in the hunt for finals.
