Rodney Eade would prefer to have injury-prone defender Tom Williams at his disposal this September, but the Western Bulldogs coach is confident of pushing on without him.
Eade has confirmed the 22-year-old would not play again this season.
The athletic tall suffered a recurrence of a quadricep injury in a skills session at Whitten Oval on Monday.
While the highly-rated Williams has not played since Round 13, he was being prepared for the monumental task of minding Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin in the qualifying final.
Eade refused the suggestion that the loss of Williams marked the end of the Bulldogs' premiership aspirations.
"It's a bit of a blow but people are making more of a kid who's 20 years of age and has played 19 games (than they should)," Eade said.
"I think that's more because he would have helped our structure."
"He's only played seven or eight games for the year and we coped OK with him. (But) we're not talking at this stage about a guy who has played 200 games."
"I think there was a fair bit of pressure on the young lad and I think it's more unfortunate for him that he didn't get up."
Eade said Williams would undergo a shoulder operation next week after battling numerous complaints since being selected at No.6 in the 2004 national draft.
"He was pretty devastated on Monday, I think because of the fact that he has had so many injuries," Eade added.
"The best thing for him is to get his shoulder done so he can have a good pre-season and hopefully be uninterrupted next year."
Williams joins veteran team-mate Scott West on the casualty list for the remainder of 2008.
Eade said a decision on the playing future of West, 35 in November, had not been made.
He will assist midfield coach Leon Cameron in the finals.
"Certainly a guy of his experience, his toughness and his ball-winning ability (would be handy) but we haven't had him there most of the year," Eade said of West.
"Some players have stepped up this year in that role. Marvellous opportunities have been created and players have grabbed that which is good."
Farren Ray and Lindsay Gilbee are fit and available for selection this weekend after missing the big win over the Bombers, Eade confirmed.