Reinforcements coming for Turvey Park in timely boost for finals quest

Ness played five games, the last against Leeton-Whitton on May 22 before restrictions intervened. But rules preventing people based in Melbourne travelling more than 25km were scrapped on Wednesday, making him available for selection.

Byrne, who won club's best and fairest in his last season at the Bulldogs in 2019, had been unavailable earlier this season due to work commitments.

But coach Michael Mazzocchi said Saturday's home clash against Griffith had initially been earmarked as his first game.

Byrne is an accomplished ruckman but Mazzocchi indicated his experience could be handy as a key defender in their young back-line.

That may depend on whether ruck recruit Shaun Allan overcomes a knee issue which kept him out of their last-start nine-point loss to Wagga Tigers.

Key forward Brad Ashcroft is also expected to finally play his second match of the year after using the bye to overcome a lingering back issue.

"I was expecting this was going to Byrne's first game, we fully expect if the restrictions are lifted that hopefully we'll have Ness and Byrne available," Mazzocchi said on Wednesday before the Victorian government confirmed restrictions had eased.

"Nath's held in high esteem around the club and the oldest bloke in our back-line is (captain) Jack Haggar, and he's in his early twenties.

"To have a guy like Nathan in there who has that experience and ability to guide the young fellas, that will be a massive help.

"Ness' couple of games before the lockdown were excellent, he gives us that run and carry and we've really missed that link up."

Full forward Ashcroft's likely return will help offset the loss of centre-half forward Mitch Ward, who will likely miss the next two weeks after suffering a recurrence of a hamstring injury he picked up in round one against the Tigers.

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"Brad will be a massive in and structures us up with that target up forward," Mazzocchi said.

"We only came into the season with two key forwards and with Brad being out, we've had to scramble a bit."

The Bulldogs have won just two of seven games, but are just one win behind fifth-placed Collingullie-Glenfield Park.

It makes the clash against the Swans a must-win, especially given games against high fliers Coolamon and Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong follow.

"I haven't been down on the guys at all, even though we've only won two games so far we've been in most games and we've missed one of our best forwards and backmen," Mazzocchi said.

"Griffith at home, you just have to win those games, and that's the way we'll attack it. I'm sure our player will up and about. The Tigers loss hurt them, we had a few players off their games who were pretty dirty on themselves and want to make amends."

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