Morton right for Demons
Perth will toy with the prospect of picking Sydney premiership forward Mitch Morton for tomorrow night's clash with South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval after the key recruit successfully negotiated a half in the reserves.
Morton had 21 disposals for the Demons reserves against Claremont at Lathlain Park last Saturday following off-season knee surgery.
His selection would represent the first time Morton has played a league match at WAFL level in seven years. He tallied 44 games with the Tigers while on West Coast's list.
The 83-game AFL player could be one of three changes for the Demons, who vaulted to the top of the WAFL ladder for the first time in six years after thrashing Claremont.
De-listed Eagle Cale Morton, younger brother of Mitch, seems certain to be fit to play the Bulldogs after recovering from a bout of concussion.
Key forward Haydn Busher is also in the mix following a successful return with the reserves. Injuries cruelled his 2013 campaign.
However, former Hawthorn premiership hero Chance Bateman and Nick Kane are likely to miss for the second straight week due to leg injuries.
Perth coach Damien McMahon said he would closely monitor Mitch Morton's fitness during the week.
"He actually had the flu really badly last week, so we'll see what sort of toll that took on him," McMahon said. "He's probably ahead of schedule on where we thought he would be. It wouldn't surprise me if he got himself up.
"But winning … it's going to be hard to have too many changes."
Perth rolled out 11 players with 10 or less games of league experience against Claremont, including three debutants.
McMahon said the Demons couldn't expect to take opposition sides by surprise every week.
"Brad Keast debuted as a guy that came through the Subiaco colts and in his first game played on Luke Blackwell and kept him to 18 possessions," he said.
"That doesn't happen too often. We've got a few of those still in the system - some of our new recruits playing in the reserves at the moment just because they've started late or had some injuries.
"We might have a couple that could step in and have an impact."
·Former West Coast and Western Bulldogs forward Andrew McDougall expected the worst when he injured his right knee during a pre-season mishap.
The 30-year-old was taken from the ground on a stretcher after an opponent landed on his leg during a practice match for Subiaco earlier this month.
But scans revealed he had damaged his posterior cruciate ligament and didn't need a reconstruction. He expects to be playing in three weeks.
"He's probably ahead of schedule on where we thought he would be.""Perth coach *Damien McMahon *on Mitch Morton
