GREATER Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has conceded Ryan Griffen is likely to miss the start of the season with an ankle injury.
Griffen missed most of last season with two separate ankle problems but had put together a solid pre-season and starred in a scratch match against the Swans last month.
But the veteran has been unable to play since and was a late withdrawal from last week's win over Collingwood in the JLT Community Series.
He failed to get up for Friday night's loss to Sydney and Cameron said after the match that Griffen is a long shot to take on his old side the Western Bulldogs in Canberra on March 25.
"His ankle is all over the shop at the moment," Cameron said.
"We thought he was going to play last week but it just hasn't gotten any better, so I reckon by about mid-week we'll get a good gauge (on his status).
"It's disappointing because he had a really good five or six weeks of training, then played in the practice match against the Swans a few weeks ago, but it just hasn't gotten any better.
"So it's highly unlikely, unless it turns a corner dramatically, that he's going to be ready for round one."
WATCH: Leon Cameron's full media conference
Gun wingman Tom Scully (knee) and young midfielder Jacob Hopper (groin) have also played no part in the JLT Community Series, but Cameron said he hopes to have them fit to face the Dogs.
"Scully is progressing really well, he's had some knee soreness, so we're really hopeful he'll be ready," he said.
"As you know he probably doesn't need too much training, he's got that aerobic ability to push through, so we're looking forward to that.
"Jacob is in the same boat, he played a couple of weeks ago but his groin was a little bit sore.
"We backed off him because we didn't want to push it this early in the season.
"We really want Jacob to get through 18 games or so this year which he hasn't been able to do because of the bad run of injuries he's had."
WATCH: Young Giant Lachie Tiziani injured his shoulder against the Swans
Swans coach John Longmire has his own worries just two weeks out from the season proper, with his ruck division devastated by the loss of Sam Naismith this week.
Naismith ruptured his ACL and will miss the 2018 season.
Callum Sinclair (ankle) missed the win over GWS, leaving young big man Darcy Cameron to lead the ruck, but he was well beaten by the bigger-bodied Dawson Simpson.
WATCH: John Longmire's full media conference here
It’s left Longmire with plenty to think about in terms of what his ruck division will look like ahead of Sydney's round one clash with West Coast in Perth.
"We've got Darcy and Sinclair, so certainly they're capable of doing it, and we've got other options as well," he said.
"If Darcy is needed I'm sure he can play, that’s why we recruited him, but Sinclair has played some good footy for us as well
"We can go with Aliir (Aliir) as well and we went with Dean Towers for five or six games last year. We'll just be creative."
Watch all JLT Community Series matches LIVE in the AFL Live Official App
