Rance backs Short for opener
RICHMOND star Alex Rance has backed his teammate Jayden Short to fill the hole left by suspended premiership defender Nathan Broad in their AFL season-opener against Carlton tomorrow night.
The Tigers will unfurl the premiership flag in a blockbuster at the MCG, with 90,000 expected.
Broad is serving a three-game suspension after circulating a photo of a woman without her consent during premiership celebrations with Rance saying he’s been impressed with Short’s preseason efforts.
Short, who was an emergency for the grand final, also put in a star showing in the Tigers preseason clash with North Melbourne.
“Without putting too much pressure on ‘Shorty’, I’ve loved his pre-season,” Rance said on Tuesday.
“I think he’s shown, especially in the North Melbourne game, that he breaks lines and is really clean by foot on both feet.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure what is going to happen in the back six just yet because we’ve still got a couple of guys going through fitness tests. “I know he’s ready to play if he does get called upon.”
Fellow backman Bachar Houli has been battling a calf injury but looked unhindered at Richmond training yesterday.
COLLINGWOOD will blood two debutants in their seasonopener against Hawthorn on Saturday night with Jaidyn Stephenson and Sam Murray getting the nod for the big MCG match.
Magpies coach Nathan Buckley confirmed yesterday that the pair, who joined the club in the off-season, would play however small forward Jamie Elliott continues to be sidelined following his November ankle surgery.
Veteran Daniel Wells and forward Alex Fasolo will line up in Friday’s VFL practice match with Box Hill, but Jordan De Goey (hamstring) and Levi Greenwood (knee) still aren’t in full training.
Young defender Murray joined Collingwood this season from Sydney while the Magpies recruited midfielder Stephenson in last November’s national draft, despite a heart condition that he’s managed for a couple of years. Stephenson, 19, impressed the Magpies with his pace through the pre-season, with teammates describing him as the quickest player at the club.
AFL premiership ruckman SHANE MUMFORD is stepping into the boxing ring.
The former Geelong, Sydney and Greater Western Sydney big man has revealed he is looking at having his first fight in June.
Mumford said an opponent for the bout was yet to be decided. An intimidating on-field presence during his 172 AFL games, the 31-year-old said he was serious about his new sporting venture.