Travis Cloke is likely to return to the playing field this weekend, four days after Western Bulldogs AFL teammate Tom Boyd also revealed he was battling mental health issues.
Power forward Boyd is taking an indefinite break from the AFL to continue treatment for clinical depression.
He will train away from his teammates, with coach Luke Beveridge saying it was too early to speculate when he would be ready to return.
In his first season with the Bulldogs, former Collingwood star Cloke also took time away from the sport last month to deal with his own mental health issues.
Beveridge said the 30-year-old Cloke had made good progress and was almost certain to make his return to playing action in the VFL on Sunday.
"He's been training with our rehab group and trained with the main group today," said Beveridge.
"He seems like he's back and keen for a kick."
The 21-year-old Boyd has been under intense public scrutiny ever since joining the Bulldogs from Greater Western Sydney three years ago on a six-year, $6 million contract which made him one of the highest-paid players in the league.
After initially struggling at his new club, Boyd came of age in the 2016 grand final victory over Sydney, where he kicked three goals and was just shaded by Jason Johannisen for best-afield honours.
But he has struggled to emulate that form in 2017, kicking only seven goals in 11 matches for the 10th-placed Bulldogs.
"I think over a significant period of time Tom has been grappling with this," Beveridge told reporters on Wednesday.
"It's been a real challenge for him.
"He is a young man who through circumstances has become a high-profile player well before his time."
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