Western Bulldogs defender Fletcher Roberts says he doesn't expect to know until after training on Thursday whether he will be playing in a grand final on Saturday, or join the list of those cursed to be dropped for a decider.
Roberts, 23, played a career-high 16 home-and-away matches this season, but was dropped on the eve of the finals. The tall backman was recalled ahead of last Saturday's preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney after fellow defender Matthew Suckling was pulled from the side with an Achilles issue.
But with Suckling looming as a likely inclusion, Roberts could be the man to make way, notwithstanding his excellent job in keeping Giants spearhead Jeremy Cameron goalless in the Dogs' thrilling win at Spotless Stadium. The fifth-year backman faces the very real prospect that he could miss two grand finals in a week, having been unavailable for Footscray's VFL grand final on Sunday as a result of his senior call-up.
Roberts said on Monday he was intent on focusing on what he can control, rather than fretting about the prospect of selection heartbreak.
"It's really up to the coaches and selection panel, and we trust everything that they make decisions for and about, so [I've got] 100 per cent trust in them and the decisions they make," Roberts told Fairfax Media at the Whitten Oval.
"I'm just trying to focus on my preparation and recovery for the next few days ... and just try and focus on training well and putting my hand up for selection again."
Asked when he expected to find out his fate, Roberts said: "I think it will be pretty similar again. We'll find out after Thursday's training ... I think everyone's pretty excited and focused on having a good week on the track."
Roberts said he didn't know until late last week that he would be returning to the seniors. "It was a bit of a weird week for me. I didn't really know where I was going to play, whether it was going to be VFL grand final or AFL prelim but either way it's an exciting time for the club – for both levels – so I was just preparing for the week and getting ready as I usually do and I was just lucky enough to replace Suckers – which is very unfortunate for him."
Despite Suckling's disappointment, Roberts said the dual premiership player – who became a Bulldog last off-season as a free agent – hadn't sulked, instead providing support for his less experienced teammates. "He came up to me and just said, 'good luck, it's an exciting time for the club, an exciting time for you, your first prelim'. He's a very good teammate, Suckers, with his experience at Hawthorn and now coming across he was able to talk to a lot of us about what we needed to do and really pump us with confidence, which was really good of him."
Suckling's situation is one of several selection quandaries for the Bulldogs, who have midfielder Lin Jong available for a return just over three weeks after breaking his collarbone in the qualifying final against West Coast. Jong won the Norm Goss medal for best afield in Footscray's grand final win over the Casey Scorpions, providing a further headache for the club's selectors. Ruckman Jordan Roughead is likely to play against the Swans despite suffering bleeding behind his eye after copping a forceful football to his face against the Giants.
Roberts gave a glowing appraisal of the club's growth under coach Luke Beveridge. "There is a lot of belief at the club now. We've got a very good list, a lot of depth as you saw with the VFL result yesterday. I think everyone's very much committed to the cause. We really enjoy each other, we've got a great bond with everyone and I think the belief is the main thing. Everyone believes."
