Western Bulldogs track watch: All the scouting notes and news from the Bulldogs’ pre-season

Just days after a hammer blow to one of their star midfielders, the Bulldogs could be facing a major concern down back, with a star defender sending a scare through their camp in Queensland.

Western Bulldogs’ star defender Liam Jones is in a race to be ready for Round 1 after hurting his hamstring in an intra-club game in Maroochydore on Sunday.

Jones, 33, was sent for scans after coming off the ground late with hamstring tightness in another significant injury worry for the Dogs.

While the club is hopeful the injury is only minor, it continues a terrible run for the Dogs after losing gun midfielder Adam Treloar (calf) and Jason Johannisen (hamstring) for three months, star ruckman Tim English (abdominal strain) as well as ace forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal) for an indefinite period.

Liam Jones has exited the Bulldogs’ match simulation early. Picture: Michael Klein

Spearhead Aaron Naughton only played a half and was quiet in Sunday’s scratch match as the injury worries continued to mount for out-of-contract coach Luke Beveridge ahead of a big call on his future.

Jones is the cornerstone of the club’s defence and would be unlikely to play in the club’s two preseason games against Essendon (February 15) and Hawthorn (February 27) if he has suffered a hamstring strain ahead of the season-opener against North Melbourne (March 15).

A more significant hamstring injury would be a disaster for the club ahead of a tough opening month against the Kangaroos (Marvel Stadium), Collingwood (MCG), Carlton (Marvel), Fremantle (Optus Stadium) and Brisbane (Norwood Oval).

Tall utilities James O’Donnell, Ryan Gardner and Jordan Croft spent time in the forward line on Sunday as coverage for Ugle-Hagan but could be swapped into defence to help replace Jones.

But there was excitement around the performances of youngster Ryley Sanders who starred in the midfield and Harvey Gallagher helping rebound off half back and Round 1 bolter Sam Davidson on a wing-half forward.

The Dogs will await the results of Jones’ scans on Monday and are certain to be cautious with him in the hope he will be fit for the season-opener against the Kangas in 40 days’ time.

Backman Bailey Dale said the setback was “not ideal”.

Ryley Sanders played a starring role in match simulation. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“He (Jones) went for a mark and landed and couldn’t take his kick,” Dale said.

“They will get scans this arvo and obviously if he misses a bit of the season at the start of the year it is not ideal for us.

“But we have some young guys down there who can hopefully fill the role.”

It is the third serious soft tissue problem in the past two weeks for a club desperate to go deep into September this year after losing to Hawthorn in last year’s elimination final.

Dale said the Dogs had full belief in their list.

“Top-four is what we are striving for,” Dale said.

“We think we have got the list (to challenge). We have got the players.

“It is just trying to bring it all together because our best footy is some of the best in the league – we showed that in glimpses last year.

“We are just trying to build on that and find that continuity week-to-week and keep showing up week-to-week.”

Dale said the club was confident in its goal kicking depth in Ugle-Hagan’s absence.

“There’s options there. Obviously ‘Marra’ is a key player at our club and we are going to miss him but there’s guys there who want to take the opportunity and step up,” he said.

“His (Ugle-Hagan’s) personal stuff has to come first and we understand that, so we are going to support him and hopefully he can get back to the club as soon as possible.”

Originally published as Western Bulldogs track watch: All the scouting notes and news from the Bulldogs’ pre-season