LACHIE Hunter is set to return to football this weekend after stepping away from the game to deal with mental health issues.
Hunter has not played at AFL level since Round 7 due to what the Western Bulldogs described as “personal reasons”. But he is a strong chance to feature in the Dogs’ match against Adelaide on Sunday.
The midfielder featured in a scratch match against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday.
Hunter was earlier this year banned for four matches, fined $20,000 ($15,000 suspended) and hit with four charges for an alleged drunken car crash in April. He told the Western Bulldogs website that losing the vice-captaincy after the incident had affected him.
“It hurt a lot, and it still does,” he said.
"Even running out on the weekend, I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it once or twice as I was running out. There's aspirations to get back in that leadership group. That can only come over time."
But after a month on the sidelines, the left-footer is ready to resume as the Dogs look to snap a three-game losing streak.
A rare eight-day break between games has also given the Dogs the luxury of gifting players and staff a bit of free time as they search for a circuit-breaker.
Bachar Houli is also targeting a Round 12 return for the Tigers against the Gold Coast on Monday, with his 14-day quarantine period ending on Thursday.
The Richmond half-back hasn’t played since Round 5 after choosing to stay in Victoria for the birth of his third child, while his mother was later admitted to intensive care with COVID-19, before improving.
Houli had calf issues at the start of the season and again during the shutdown period, but is confident his time spent training away from the club has him ready.
Shane Edwards remains in Melbourne for the birth of his child, while Geelong is still confident Gary Ablett will re-join his teammates before the end of the season after going home for personal reasons.
It comes as the AFL is set to charter another round of flights to get players, staff and family members from their respective states into the hubs to serve the 14-day quarantine period. AFL boss Gill McLachlan will also make the trip.
The league is this week expected to release its Round 14-16 fixture, with sources saying Tasmania is again unlikely to be unavailable.
If Tasmania is overlooked due to strict border restrictions, clubs believe it likely the new Cairns hub – initially slated to involve two teams – will host to more sides.
Games will also be played in Darwin and Alice Springs.