3 minute read

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says Alex Keath and Laitham Vandermeer are likely to overcome hamstring injuries and be available for the AFL grand final.

Western Bulldogs defender Alex Keath is on track to overcome injury as coach Luke Beveridge mulls grand final selection heartbreak for at least two of his AFL players.

A hamstring strain forced Keath to miss the Dogs' preliminary final victory last weekend, a game in which Laitham Vandermeer was substituted because of a hamstring injury.

Both face fitness tests next week ahead of the September 25 premiership decider against Melbourne in Perth.

"Alex still needs to tick off a few parameters but he's on track, he's looking good," Beveridge told reporters on Thursday.

The Dogs coach said "signs are looking good" for Vandermeer to also be available but the 22-year-old could face the axe regardless of his fitness.

Livewire forward Cody Weightman, who missed the preliminary final after being concussed the week prior, is certain to return for the grand final with Vandermeer likely to be squeezed out of the Bulldogs side.

And Keath looms as a starter ahead of Zaine Cordy, who replaced him for the Dogs' 71-point thrashing of Port Adelaide in their preliminary final.

The Bulldogs remain in isolation in Perth until Sunday, only permitted to leave their resort base for training.

But Beveridge said the restrictions weren't an issue for his club, which has travelled to and from Melbourne, Launceston, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and back to Perth in the past five weeks.

"Everyone is really enjoying the little bit of downtime this week after a pretty hectic last month or so," he said.

"It's no different to what we have faced in regards to some of the challenges along the way.

"You have just got to embrace them and think fondly about the circumstances that we're in, that we're privileged to be exposed to some of the elements in the build-up to the '21 grand final."

The Bulldogs are seeking their first premiership since 2016 while the Demons haven't won a flag since 1964.

And Beveridge believed his club's 2016 experience offered a slight edge over Melbourne, who haven't featured in a grand final since losing the 2000 decider.

"There's some familiarity to it, there's no doubt, with some of the players who have done it before," Beveridge said.

" ... It counts, it might be just a small marginal gain that might make a little bit of a difference."