Matt Suckling in extreme doubt to play for Western Bulldogs in Grand Final after failing to train

DOUBT over the fitness of Western Bulldogs defender Matt Suckling has increased after the superboot failed to get out of a jog on Thursday.

DOUBT over the fitness of Western Bulldogs defender Matt Suckling has increased after the superboot failed to get out of a jog on Thursday.

Suckling and Dale Morris failed to train with the main group at the Bulldogs’ final training session at the Whitten Oval today ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final against Sydney.

While Morris is almost certain to play, having taken part in a fitness test on Wednesday, doubt still remains on two-time premiership player Suckling, who has a sore Achilles.

The injury has restricted him to just four games in the last two months.

Suckling trained on Tuesday in a bid to prove his fitness but had to stop at times and reach for his Achilles as he spoke to club medical staff.

Western Bulldog Matt Suckling struggled with the Achilles issue at Tuesday’s training session. Picture: Michael Klein

Suckling and Morris had a brief kick to kick and handball before leaving the track early.

But Bulldogs assistant coach Joel Corey said Suckling and Morris had already done enough work earlier in the week to give themselves a chance.

“(Suckling) trained heavily on Tuesday and he has had a different kind of program,” Corey said. “I wouldn’t read too much into that (not training today).”

“Dale trained yesterday. Once again he has been on a different sort of schedule.”

But the good news for the Dogs was that ruckman Jordan Roughead got through training without an issue and will play on Saturday.

Matt Suckling didn’t train with the main group on Thursday.

Corey said Roughead’s eye specialist would have the final say on whether he plays, though the belief is he will.

“He moved around pretty well out there,” he said. “My understanding is he is good.”

Lin Jong trained strongly in his push for an inclusion after his best afield VFL efforts last week.

“He performed at a really high level on Sunday, he has done a lot to come back from injury in a short period of time,” he said.

Injured skipper Bob Murphy took part in the warm up in an emotional touch cheered on by the crowd of more than 8000 Bulldogs fans who attended Whitten oval.