Cody Weightman being ruled out of this weekend’s Preliminary Final provides Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge with a selection dilemma.
The energetic Weightman has provided a spark for the Bulldogs since coming into the side in Round 9, returning 26 goals in 15 matches.
The 20-year-old will miss Saturday night’s clash with Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval due to concussion after receiving a head knock in the one-point Semi Final win over Brisbane.
His absence opens up a position in the starting 22, but who will fill the void?
Former Dogs captain Bob Murphy says at this early stage he can see Anthony Scott being called up.
“I’m interested to see who replaces Cody Weightman,” he said on SEN Drive.
“Anthony Scott is my gut instinct.
“20 games (this year) and seems to have the vote of the coach.”
The mature age pre-season recruit has played 18 games in his debut season for the Dogs, with two spent as the medi-sub, and has kicked nine goals.
He last played in the Round 21 loss to Essendon.
Murphy’s co-host Andy Maher posed the question regarding Dogs vice-captain Mitch Wallis as a possible option to replace Weightman.
Wallis led the way for the club with 25 goals as a lead-up forward in 2020, but has played just six games this season.
Maher asked: “Would the Mitch Wallis name come up at all in early match committee during the week?”
To which Murphy replied: “I would think so, but I don’t know.
“Except he’s just not a small forward. So you’d be changing up the structure, which I would imagine at this stage (wouldn’t be ideal)… we love the process.”
Jason Johannisen, who stepped into Weightman’s role as the medi-sub, kicked a crucial goal late in the third quarter and could also be considered as a potential starter.
The Dogs are also sweating on the fitness of competiton superstar and club captain Marcus Bontempelli who is battling a knee issue sustained late in the Lions win.
The 2016 premiers are currently ranked as the outsider to knock off the Power in the weekend’s second prelim which follows the Melbourne v Geelong clash in Perth on Friday night.
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