Tigers ripe to start premiership defence

RICHMOND will ramp up its premiership defence with a near fully-fit list when players resume training on Monday.

Players across the league face a series of rigorous running and skinfold tests as part of routine new year fitness assessments early next week.

The Tigers are confident the players will remain hungry and avoid the complacency issues that dogged the Western Bulldogs last year.

And in an added bonus for Richmond, the only players working their way back from serious injury are livewire Daniel Rioli (foot) and speedster Nathan Drummond (knee reconstruction).

Rioli, 20, broke the foot in the Grand Final win against Adelaide and had surgery.

The goalkicker is facing an uphill battle to be fit to play in Round 1 against Carlton at the MCG on March 22.

Football chief Neil Balme said the Tigers were buoyed by Rioli’s progress, but would not take any risks.

“We are really happy with how he is going, but there is obviously no rush with it,” he said.

The Tigers’ top pick in November’s draft, small forward Jack Higgins, looms as a readymade replacement for Rioli.

The strong-bodied Higgins, 18, has impressed at training since he was taken with pick 17 in the draft.

Key forward-ruck Ben Griffiths will resume full training next week after a season plagued by concussion and a shoulder injury. Griffiths, 26, played only two senior games last season and has just 28 in the past three years.