TIGER RIEWOLDT READY TO RETURN AGAINST HAWTHORN
JACK Riewoldt will be passed fit to take on Hawthorn next Sunday as Richmond attempts to shore up its top-four aspirations.
But Melbourne will need to qualify for its first finals series since 2006 for Jesse Hogan to return from a badly broken collarbone.
The AFL’s contenders were hit by a series of worrying injuries, with Sydney’s Josh Kennedy and Geelong’s Nakia Cockatoo set to miss with hamstring injuries.
The Tigers not only survived a danger game against Gold Coast given Riewoldt’s absence, they saw key rivals around them lose.
Richmond made finals in the five seasons of 1971-75 but the victory means it will be only the second time since the 1940s they have played finals in four out of five seasons.
Riewoldt needed multiple stitches in his cornea after being poked in the eye by an unnamed teammate at training last Thursday.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said his spearhead would return against a whitehot Hawthorn.
Dion Prestia’s return is far from certain, with footy boss Neil Balme saying he was still battling achilles tightness that saw him miss the Suns game.
He has also endured hamstring and knee issues this year but would be a handy inclusion given he has added tagging to his skills in recent weeks.
Melbourne’s Hogan broke his left collarbone in a collision with Luke McDonald on Saturday during the costly loss to North Melbourne.
Western Bulldog Lin Jong returned after only a single week off last year but sports medico Peter Larkins says Hogan’s injury is more severe.
If the 10-8 Demons make finals it will be in six weeks time, which means he cannot endure any setbacks.
Larkins said the injury displaced the collarbone and was worse than Jong’s fracture.
“Jesse had really nasty multiple breaks in the collarbone. Generally players have surgery to have the quickest possible return if it’s not badly out of position,’’ he told 3AW.
“Six weeks is the average time out, you have got to get your power and strength back.
“Let’s put a minimum of four weeks on it and say any week after that he might be available.”