Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has a simple reason for slotting Cody Weightman straight into the heat of AFL: "He's too good a player not to introduce straight away".
Weight will confront Hawthorn on Friday night 637 days after his last outing on the big stage - against the same club in a cut-throat final at the MCG.
"He's worked extremely hard to build up his body again ... he's well prepared," Beveridge said.
"I don't think he's going to look any different once it's his turn."
Beveridge conceded Weightman "had doubts in his own head" about a return to elite level footy after a wretched run with a rare knee complaint, followed by infection and a string of surgeries.
But with a sustained run of training Weightman is ready to play on what is likely to be heavily monitored, lower than average game time.
Beveridge has no doubt his attack on the ball, and competitive nature in open field and in-close, will be as strong as ever.
"He's almost too courageous for his own good," Beveridge said.
"He'll pull up sore, we'll work through it post-game."
Weightman is hugely popular at the Dogs, and clearly a favourite of the coach himself. Despite his long-term injury, Weightman has been a member of the club's leadership group.
Beveridge said Weightman's teammates would get a "spiritual lift".
"Some teammates just get inside your bones a little bit more than others," Beveridge said.
"He's just a really special young man."
With Weightman in, and the Dogs content with the team performance against Collingwood, one change is the likely option at selection.
Lachie Jaques or Cooper Hynes appear the most likely to make way for Weightman.
The Dogs are unlikely to tinker with their tall stocks.
Beveridge said Hawthorn would be a huge test.
"They've got our measure at the moment," Beveridge said.
Concussion is no longer an issue for Tom Liberatore, it is only a knee injury holding him back.
He could be back before the bye against St Kilda.
