Western Bulldogs face heartbreaking Grand Final call if Matthew Suckling declared fit

JORDAN Roughead’s vision has returned and will train tomorrow and Matthew Suckling is likely to be declared fit, meaning Grand Final heartache looms for one Bulldog.

Matthew Suckling tests out his Achilles at Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

GRAND Final heartbreak looms for one of the Western Bulldogs’ preliminary final heroes if premiership defender Matthew Suckling is declared fit to face Sydney on Saturday.

The Dogs said on Tuesday Suckling was in their best 22 and his premiership experience would count when the coaches sit down for Thursday’s match committee.

Defender Fletcher Roberts, 23, looms as the unlucky omission, despite his faultless return against Greater Western Sydney.

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Suckling, 28, trained with the main group at Whitten Oval and is expected to be available after missing his fourth game with Achilles soreness.

Jordan Roughead’s vision has returned with the ruckman going through his game edits and attending Tuesday’s match review with teammates.

Roughead will train lightly and line up in the club’s first Grand Final in 55 years — unless he suffers another bout of bleeding in the eye.

Matthew Sucking breaks the tackle of assistant coach Rohan Smith during a test on his injured achilles at training. Picture: Michael Klein

Midfielder Lin Jong is also available but appears unlikely to play a second Grand Final in six days.

Assistant coach Steven King said the Dogs were in a “great position” after a season plagued by injuries.

But the Swans are suddenly banged-up.

Aliir Aliir (knee) will not play, Rising Star Callum Mills (hamstring) is unlikely to return, Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy are carrying sore knees and Swans medicos are weighing up the risk of rushing back Jarrad McVeigh (calf).

“It (match committee) is going to be difficult,” King said.

“But what we’ve done as a match committee all year is pick the best team to play and win in a particular week.

“That won’t change. We’ll have to look at the match-ups, obviously Sydney are a little bit different to GWS.”

Luke Parker has sore knee while Aliir Aliir is expected to miss the Grand Final.

The Dogs’ match committee is made up of senior coach Luke Beveridge and his assistants, including VFL coach Ash Hansen.

The Swans have fewer forward targets than GWS, which could count against 196cm Roberts.

King would not speculate on who could miss, but said Roberts was “fantastic” against the Giants.

“Everything we’ve asked Fletch to do he’s done (and) the game he played last week was sensational,” King said.

“For us we’re in a really fortunate position. We could probably roll out 26 or 27 players this week and we’d know with great confidence they’d get the job done.”

Fletcher Roberts at training. Picture: Michael Klein

Roberts has played 17 games this year but missed the Round 15 win against the Swans.

On Saturday he spent 45 minutes on Jon Patton (four disposals, two goals), 28 minutes on Rory Lobb (three disposals, no goals) and 21 minutes on Jeremy Cameron (one disposal, no goals).

Roberts has had three goals kicked on him just once — by Geelong monster Tom Hawkins in a Round 13 last-quarter burst.

Suckling has played in three Grand Finals with Hawthorn and was replaced by Roberts for the preliminary final.

“I think anyone that’s played finals footy, it’s a real positive for our young group,” King said.

“We’ve got some older players that have played finals as well (and) a lot of coaches have been through it as well.

“Suckers has been fantastic for our group since he walked in the door and no doubt he’s a very relaxed person, but he’s very personable as well.

“We’ll give him every chance to get back. He’s in our best 22 when he’s fit and available and hopefully he can prove his fitness this week.”

The Dogs appear settled in 21 other positions with kids Josh Dunkley, Toby McLean and Zaine Cordy all firing in September.