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Cody Weightman is likely to miss the Western Bulldogs' AFL preliminary final showdown with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
Luke Beveridge concedes the Western Bulldogs won't find a like-for-like replacement for Cody Weightman if the livewire forward is ruled out of their AFL preliminary final against Port Adelaide.
Weightman is likely to miss the clash under the league's concussion protocols, having been substituted out of the thrilling one-point semi-final win over Brisbane after a head knock.
The second-year forward, who has kicked 26 goals in a breakout season, was replaced by medical substitute Jason Johannisen against the Lions.
Johannisen is a possible inclusion in the 22 at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, with Mitch Wallis, Anthony Scott and No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan also in the mix.
"We're not going to get another Cody Weightman," Bulldogs coach Beveridge said after the Brisbane victory.
"Cody's sort of moving into that area where he's very difficult to defend because he got an air and a ground game.
"But I suppose this is what happens and we've needed most of our list to play some AFL footy this year and our boys have done an outstanding job."
The Bulldogs have used 41 players this season - more than any other club.
"We've had critical role players contribute to really important victories and we'll need to call on a handful of those boys to play in a preliminary final," Beveridge said.
"The great thing is that they've come into the team and (felt) like they've contributed in the past.
"We'll have a different player to replace Cody who'll bring a different skill set, but there are some lads there waiting in the wings that'll come in and be an important part of our make-up."
Johannisen has been the Bulldogs' substitute in three of his 23 games this season, including both finals to date.
The 2016 Norm Smith medallist was unused in the elimination final victory over Essendon before replacing Weightman against Brisbane.
Wallis was the Bulldogs' leading goal-kicker in 2020 after being reinviented as a mid-sized forward but has been a peripheral figure this season, featuring in just six games.
Scott had played 20 games this season but was the unused substitute twice late in the campaign and is yet to feature during the finals.
Ugle-Hagan has kicked seven goals in five games this year but his slender frame is some concern matching up against opposition key defenders, making him unlikely to be used as a prime target in attack in the absence of injured teammate Josh Bruce.
Aaron Naughton, Josh Schache and ruckman Tim English provided most of the aerial presence in attack against Brisbane.
The Bulldogs may also need to find a replacement for skipper Marcus Bontempelli, who was due to have scans on an injured right knee on arrival in Perth on Sunday.
The Bulldogs will begin their mandated 14-day quarantine period in Western Australia before travelling to Adelaide for the Power clash, in the hope of then returning to Perth for the grand final.
