The Western Bulldogs are set to be bolstered by at least one key name for Friday night's clash against St Kilda, with Bailey Smith set to return to the side after serving his successive two-match suspensions.
Smith hasn't featured in the red, white and blue since Round 13, a game in which he copped a two-week suspension for headbutting. While serving the ban, Smith was handed an additional two weeks by the league for incidents relating to illicit drug use.
The young star will be a valuable inclusion for the tenth placed Bulldogs, keen to keep their slim finals hopes alive with a win over the ninth placed Saints.
Senior coach Luke Beveridge said that it was "great" to welcome back Smith, but admitted he had warned the young gun about maintaining discipline on field in the aftermath of the headbutting incident.
"He's in a good head space, he's looking forward to getting back out and playing a game with his teammates," Beveridge said.
"I think he's managed it (the time out) extremely well and it will be great to have him back in the team.
"I said to him I was probably more concerned about the headbutt than what happened at the end of last year,
"He moved on from all that from last year. He was obviously frustrated with himself in regards to that.
"But we all know that he's put all the right things in place and we manage and support him with his wellbeing as well as anyone can.
"Bailey's the type of competitor that turns up early to games and winds himself up and absolutely wants to be the best player out there for his club and his teammates.
"It sort of almost flies in the face of trying to take the edge off and create some calmness in your life.
"He's just a fierce competitor, so my conversation with him was more around discipline and making sure that he plays his best footy within the rules and (making sure) that we don't lose him again."
Smith may also be joined on the field by Josh Bruce who has been sidelined since Round 21 last year with an ACL injury. The luckless key forward was approaching an AFL return last month but was hampered by a hamstring injury, but is now "every chance" to feature at senior level on Friday night.
The 30-year-old kicked four goals in the VFL for Footscay last week.
"It's not great timing โ five-day break after a state league game โ but he seems like he's come through that game," Beveridge said.
"He's healthy and he should be available for selection.
"There's every chance his name will be added to the teamsheet."
