I’m coming for you, Cats

Midfielder bounces back from hamstring injury

TOP Tigers Jack Graham or Oleg Markov are likely to make way for Josh Caddy, who has declared he is fit for Richmond’s blockbuster qualifying final.

Caddy is a certain recall for Friday night’s clash against his former club Geelong.

The forward-midfielder has been out of action since suffering a hamstring injury in Round 21 against the Cats at Simonds Stadium.

“I’m right to go — it’s our day off today and we’ll have our main session tomorrow but physically I’m fine,” Caddy said yesterday.

“So we just have to hear the news off the coach, but I’m right to go.”

Like every finals player who has been under an injury cloud, Caddy is grateful for last weekend’s bye.

“I had a really good hitout last Friday,” he said.

“If there had been a game, it would have been touch and go for the weekend.”

He does not think he will be rusty despite missing their past two games.

“Including the JLT (preseason), I played 22 games this year,” he said.

“Hopefully the body of work I’ve done throughout the whole season has me in good hands for the finals.”

Caddy also feels the few minutes he played against the Cats in Round 21 will help his nerves for Friday’s game.

The former Gold Coast player had four seasons at Geelong before joining Richmond this season.

“You do get nervous playing against your old side, no doubt,” he said. “But even though I was only out there for a little while, it got those butterflies and nerves out of the way.

“I haven’t thought about it anywhere near as much.”

Caddy joined the Tigers at a fraught time — after losing three elimination finals, they dropped out of the finals last season and that sparked a challenge against the club board.

But he had an immediate sense the Tigers would be better this season.

“Yeah, probably to say we’d finish third, I wouldn’t have thought it was likely but I definitely knew we had the ability to improve,” he said.