FREE-AGENT signing Jackson Trengove's VFL stint is down to strong competition for spots, says Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.
Trengove will play his second game in a row for Footscray on Saturday night in his return from a cracked scapula sustained against West Coast in round two.
The 27-year-old had limited impact at state league level two weeks ago, collecting 11 disposals and kicking one goal.
Brought to the club on a three-year deal, the former Port Adelaide big man is competing against versatile youngsters Tim English and Tom Boyd for two spots as a ruck/forward.
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Premiership ruckman Jordan Roughead will increase the battle for senior selection when he returns from a hamstring injury in the coming weeks.
Speaking on Friday morning, Beveridge said Trengove's absence from the senior side was not down to form.
"(Jackson) fractured his scapula in round two and he missed some footy, and he played the game against Geelong at VFL level and just really felt his way through that game making sure (his shoulder) was right," Beveridge said.
"Even though everything told us he was ready to play, he didn't play with the same aggression he usually does because he was still feeling it a little bit.
"I'm sure he'll be picked over the course of the next few weeks."
Asked why Trengove wasn't being considered as a key defender in the absence of the injured Marcus Adams, Dale Morris and Easton Wood, Beveridge said the club viewed him predominately as a ruckman who can play forward.
Second-year key defender Lewis Young will replace Wood (hamstring) for Saturday's clash with Gold Coast in Ballarat, while Trengove was selected as an emergency.
"He is versatile, and essentially when I first spoke to 'Jacko' (about coming to the club), we talked about that ruck/forward role, knowing he can play as defender," Beveridge said.
"Timmy English and Tom Boyd are playing in tandem, and they were pretty good last week, so at the moment we're not playing three of those bigger forward-ruckman types.
"If 'Jacko' plays extremely well and other two are going really well, we've got to consider that."
Another player languishing in the VFL is Fletcher Roberts, with the premiership key defender dropped after his only senior game for the season in round two.
After signing a two-year extension last year, Zaine Cordy and impressive draftee Aaron Naughton have been preferred ahead the 24-year-old in the side's key defensive posts.
"Fletcher has got to play extremely well to get a spot, and Lewis has been just ahead of him at VFL level," Beveridge said.
"He's a key defender, and we've got some options there if we lose someone (to injury)."
