Grigg set to step up
HAWTHORN’S potential double-teaming of Richmond ruckman Toby Nankervis will hold few fears for the Tigers as they expand Shaun Grigg’s back-up role.
The Hawks are certain to bring in defender James Sicily for Thursday night’s qualifying final and could also turn to ruckman Jon Ceglar after a fortnight out with a sore calf.
They dropped back-up ruckman Mark Pittonet for the Round 23 win over Sydney but are expected to try to exploit Nankervis’s one-out role in the ruck.
Champion Data statistics show that 190cm Grigg has doubled his time in the ruck this season, with Richmond ahead by 85 points on the scoreboard when he is in the middle.
Grigg effectively conceded the ruck at times last year before turning into an extra midfielder, but this year he has even won the odd hitout as his ruck time increased from 7 per cent to 18 per cent.
The 30-year-old remains one of the few experienced premiership players on the Tigers’ list out of contract.
Richmond seems unlikely to play small forward Dan Butler after his one-goal, threepossession return from an ankle injury in Saturday night’s VFL qualifying final against Williamstown.
But Richmond football boss Neil Balme has effectively declared Kane Lambert certain to play as he recovers from minor ankle surgery.
The Tigers held key defender Ryan Garthwaite and utility Sam Lloyd from the VFL clash as cover for Thursday’s game and they trained instead.
“We are pretty happy with the way (Lambert’s) gone,” Balme said. “He has only missed a couple of games so he didn’t need to play one. I would be surprised if he didn’t get up.
“(Lloyd) and Garthwaite were very much the next players in line in the selection chop-up. For them to play two games in five days is pretty hard. I wish the AFL and VFL would talk to each other, it would make it easier for us.”
Hawthorn is sure Sicily will return to take on the Tigers, two days short of nine weeks since he fractured his wrist.
He trained well all week and fitness boss Andrew Russell said: “We thought all along he would be ready to play in the first final and it’s the way he’s looking.
“He had a full training week and we are excited that he will be out there next Thursday.”
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd said yesterday that Sicily would be the ideal match-up for Dustin Martin when he pushed forward.
Daniel Howe started on the bench in Box Hill’s VFL elimination win on Saturday but is unlikely to play on Thursday. James Frawley (back) will be fit to take on Jack Riewoldt.