AFL 2023: Liam Jones to return for Bulldogs after shattering Josh Bruce injury

A vital Western Bulldogs defender has been declared fit just in time to bolster an injury-ravaged backline in a must-win clash.

Liam Jones is a confirmed starter against Richmond at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. Picture: Michael Klein

A returning Liam Jones will be the perfect tonic for the Western Bulldogs on Friday night as their key defensive stocks continue to be ravaged by injuries.

The star interceptor will come straight back into the senior side after eight weeks out following a horrific double fracture to his forearm, as coach Luke Beveridge tries to settle his backline in the wake of a season-ending knee injury to Josh Bruce and a concussion to Alex Keath.

Beveridge confirmed Jones would face Richmond at Marvel Stadium as the Bulldogs try to shore up their spot in the top eight after coughing up a 35-point third-quarter lead against GWS in Ballarat.

The coach said the injury to Bruce, his second ACL rupture in two years, had sapped his teammates’ energy, while the combined loss of him and Keath had left “too much to do” for the remaining Bulldogs defenders as the Giants sailed home to win by five points and drag the Bulldogs back into the middle of the ladder.

Injured Bulldogs tall Josh Bruce was embraced by former GWS teammate Phil Davis after Saturday’s clash in Ballarat. Picture: Michael Klein.

“It was a solid first half, but it was a situation where you couldn’t really stabilise, as the players were asked to do too much for too long and couldn’t go the distance,” Beveridge said.

“There’s some promise in that, because obviously they’re going pretty well GWS, but once again for us close enough wasn’t good enough.”

He said the injury had been “traumatic” for Bruce, who missed most of last season after rupturing the ACL in his other knee late in 2021 and enduring an isolated rehab during the pandemic.

The 31-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, but Beveridge said the club had wrapped its arms around him after the game.

Key defender Liam Jones will return for the Bulldogs eight weeks after he had surgery on a horrific double forearm fracture. Picture: Michael Klein

“He goes into surgery (Thursday), Josh … it’s pretty traumatic for him. I think the important thing for him this time around is it was a lonely rehab period during the pandemic last time with the other knee,” Beveridge said.

“Both sides of his family rallied and have come down to support him and (wife) Pip, and Poppy and Augie their kids.”

Beveridge said Ryan Gardner (soreness) and James O’Donnell (concussion) could both line up alongside Jones, although the Bulldogs may be tempted to leave a tall out as they prepare for a Tigers forward line led by lone key target Jack Riewoldt.

“Liam will come back into the team when it’s announced (Thursday) afternoon – there will be another couple of changes,” he said.

Ed Richards (illness) is expected to return after missing the Giants clash, while Beveridge said Sam Darcy had not “turned a corner” yet after a severe cork that caused internal bleeding but did not rule out a return for the father-son prospect earlier than his listed absence of three to five weeks.