Western Bulldogs livewire Cody Weightman may miss just one match with elbow injury

His injury looked gruesome but Western Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman may not miss much football.

Cody Weightman may return earlier than expected. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The Western Bulldogs could lose livewire forward Cody Weightman for just one week despite a “traumatic” elbow injury suffered in last week’s big win over GWS.

Weightman, who dislocated his elbow after kicking five goals but returned to the field to finish the game, trained on Wednesday ahead of this week’s clash with Hawthorn, but coach Luke Beveridge wasn’t sure he’d be fit to play.

The 21-year-old avoided bone damage, only stretching his ligaments, but the six-day break to Friday night‘s clash with the Hawks could hurt Weightman’s chances of playing.

“It’s a pretty traumatic sort of injury, and he is going to train today but we want to make sure that if he if he plays, he’s pain-free, he’s comfortable and he can play his natural game,” Beveridge said on Wednesday.

“Standing in front of you, I’m not totally certain that that will be the case.

“He’ll definitely train and I think we’re more inclined to look after him and he’ll need to miss a game. But I’d say he’d almost definitely be ready for the following week.”

After making a solid return from an ACL injury in the VFL last weekend, key forward Josh Bruce is more likely to have another run in the reserves before being brought back to partner Aaron Naughton.

Josh Bruce made a solid VFL return. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Bruce conceded his match fitness would be the biggest challenge to an AFL return.

“The body is feeling like I’ve been hit by a train … but it’s good to have that kind of pain again,” he said.

“It felt amazing to be back out there.

“I was pretty nervous, it was a pretty significant injury and it hasn’t been the smoothest of rehabs. My match fitness wasn’t quite there, but in another couple of weeks I’ll be right.”

Beveridge also couldn’t guarantee Lachie Hunter would come back in to face the Hawks having also made his return from a mental health break in the VFL and not playing since round 5.

Lachie Hunter is still a question mark. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Sitting four points outside the eight with matches against Brisbane, Sydney, St Kilda, Melbourne, Geelong and Fremantle to come after Hawthorn, Beveridge was adamant his team’s best football was to come.

“Beyond this game we‘ve got a stretch of playing against teams who are above us, which is a fact,” he said.

“We believe our best is going to challenge, but as we discussed this morning the momentum swings in games we‘ve got to stave off and we’re setting ourselves up each week to be a formidable opponent.”

Beveridge said banned on-baller Bailey Smith, who won’t play until round 18 after he serves both a suspension for headbutting and an AFL ban, was keen to play but in an “OK” space as he waits for his return.

“He‘ll be like a cat on a hot tin roof – he’ll want to play but he can’t,” Beveridge said.

“But he seems to be in an OK space.”