Intra-club match today!
Won't be able to get there, work.
Ryan Griffen ready to play
Mark Stevens | February 20, 2009 12:00am
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25080251-19775,00.html

WESTERN Bulldogs midfield star Ryan Griffen will have his first hit-out of the season in the club's intra-club practice match at Whitten Oval today. Griffen missed the Dogs' opening NAB Cup clash against Essendon following the death of his father John after a long battle with cancer.

He returned yesterday from a fortnight in South Australia with his family.

The Dogs were confident his fitness would not be dramatically affected by the break.

"The fact he's had a really good pre-season, he's not going to drop a lot," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"He has done some training. (Assistant coach) Leon Cameron went over there for a couple of days to help him out.

"Obviously, not being with the group, he is going to miss out a little bit, so we'll do some extra running with him on Saturday and build him up.

"He will play every week from now until the season starts."

Forward Scott Welsh will also make his first appearance, returning from back soreness.

Veteran skipper Brad Johnson will be rested from the 4pm intra-club match after playing against the Bombers.

Defender Brian Lake has been given the day off as part of his program.

Lake had hip surgery before Christmas, and the Dogs saw no need to play him this week.

He will play the remaining three practice games, starting with next Friday's clash with St Kilda at Visy Park.

Robert Murphy, Adam Cooney, Mitch Hahn and Jason Akermanis are not ready.

Defender Stephen Tiller, who has a badly corked calf, will also be an onlooker.
And I don't think I'll bother with the praccy against St Kilda either. Too early to see the filth this year.