A CALF injury suffered at training last week could further delay Western Bulldogs recruit Josh Schache's debut for his new club.
The club rested the former Lion from a VFL practice match yesterday after he pulled up sore following training on Thursday, but further assessment on his calf has diagnosed the problem as a grade one strain.
However, Bulldogs assistant coach Steven King told K-Rock radio the No.2 pick in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft was still a chance to play next week.
The 20-year-old key forward wasn't selected for round one after he had limited impact in two JLT Community Series matches, and then was quiet in a VFL practice game last week.
"Schache has got a grade one calf strain and he would have missed this week (anyway), so hopefully next week he's back," King said on Sunday.
"He's another tall, exciting prospect that we envisage will play (seniors) for us sooner than later."
King also addressed the administrative error that saw another key forward, Jack Redpath, also unavailable for any level this weekend.
The 26-year-old was suspended for three games after round 21 last season, which on the surface would have rendered him unavailable for round one only.
However, AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon ruled that because Redpath played in a VFL practice game last weekend, "his suspension was not completed as required".
King said while the oversight was unfortunate, he wasn't sure if Redpath's form demanded inclusion against the Eagles anyway.
"Jack missed the JLT series and (played) AFLX, so we thought, from a club point of view, that a VFL practice match wouldn't have counted, so that was an honest mistake," King said.
"Whether he's form warranted a game this week, I'm not sure, but he'll certainty be available for next week."
