Close to two months removed from a significant calf injury, Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Treloar pressed a strong case to be recalled to the AFL side last week, posting a dominant 40 disposals in his return to competitive football in the VFL.
However, the Bulldogs' selection panel have elected not to pick the 32-year-old for the club's Round 24 do-or-die clash against Fremantle on Sunday, with senior coach Luke Beveridge suggesting that the club remains apprehensive about pushing Treloar back into the speed of an AFL game so soon.
Beveridge stated on Friday that the Bulldogs will consider him for the finals campaign, should they clinch a top-eight spot on Sunday, and will build out a plan for his return from there.
"We're a bit gun-shy, with him coming out of the game at AFL level early in the piece in the last one he played," Beveridge told the media on Friday.
"[It's been] such a long time between that game and where we've got to now. Now, it's just an opportunity to train on, get some further evidence that he's going to be able to get through the thrust of games.
"It's not hoping, it's planning. It's going through with absolute stealth that we're obviously got to win this week to keep going. If both teams [VFL and AFL] march on, he'll get an opportunity to play in a Footscray final. That's a bit higher-end than the VFL game against Carlton recently.
"It's a really big positive for us that he got through the game last week at state league level. He wants to play AFL footy straight away and we understand that, when he's fully fit, he's in our first handful picked, he's such an outstanding player."
According to the 2016 premiership coach, Treloar is confident he's ready to return to AFL level immediately, but highlighted the importance of continuing to reward the Bulldogs' group of "match-hardened" players who have run out together consistently in the second half of this season.
Treloar, meanwhile, has played in just four games this season and hasn't spent more than 71 per cent time-on-ground in those fixtures.
"[Treloar] will always exhibit that confident demeanour. He's got enormous belief in himself, and I think because he's been through injuries in his time, he knows his body pretty well," Beveridge said.
"Adam could play at AFL level this week and he'd accumulate... might even get 30 possessions, but there is more to the game than that.
"We've got a group of players who are match-hardened and have been playing together for a while. It's about making sure that Adam feels totally ready and his teammates have got absolute confidence in his physical health and that he's right to contribute to a victory.
"He's disappointed, he wants to be playing in the AFL team. He's carried himself superbly, contributed and played like a leader for Footscray last weekend, so no doubts about his professionalism and his leadership."
Beveridge noted that Treloar's late bid to play senior football could add a positive edge to the Bulldogs group with September action on the cards, hoping the internal pressure could elevate their performances.
The Bulldogs' midfield has seen a number of players elevate their play in times of need in 2025 already, with recruit Matthew Kennedy notably excelling in the midfield while Marcus Bontempelli recovered from a pre-season injury.
"It's probably a good thing there's an edginess to selection as well, the boys know that they need to play well to maintain and continue to earn their spot, and Adam pressures that a little bit more now," Beveridge said.
"I said to Adam, 'You've got to persevere through this difficult time, and you just don't know what's up ahead.' We're hoping he can play an AFL finals series, but it remains to be seen."
Treloar will likely feature for the VFL's ladder-leading Footscray Bulldogs in their qualifying final against Frankston in just over a week's time, while his AFL counterparts hope to secure a place in September in an elimination final-esque match against Fremantle on Sunday.
