FLAG GUNS IN DANGER
RICHMOND’S premiership defence will likely start without grand final heroes Bachar Houli and Dion Prestia despite encouraging progress from soft-tissue injuries.
The Tigers’ season opener is just seven days away, with Houli (calf) and Prestia (ham- string) pushing hard after recent setbacks.
But with Richmond boasting impressive depth and unwilling to take unnecessary risks on senior players, they will likely run out of time to prove their fitness.
Nathan Broad (internal suspension) and Daniel Rioli (foot) will make four changes from the Tigers’ premiership team last season.
Many clubs have internal trails and intraclub games this weekend, but the Tigers will instead train as normal.
With Shaun Hampson needing another epidural to ease his back complaint, Shaun Grigg will again go in as the club’s second ruckman.
Second-year small forward Shai Bolton, who won an unlikely hitout against North Melbourne as a forward ruck, should replace Rioli.
The Tigers play six of their first seven games at the MCG, an ideal platform for another finals assault. Prestia hasn’t played a JLT contest.
He has already suffered a slight recurrence of the hamstring injury so almost certainly won’t be risked for Round 1.
Tigers football boss Neil Balme didn’t rule out Houli and Prestia, but said Richmond was well poised entering Round 1.
“We have still got several training sessions to go. We haven’t given up on either of them but we will be conservative with them,” Balme said.
“They are both keen to play but we won’t be taking any risks with them. Dion slightly hurt himself, then slightly hurt it again.
“That might count against him. We don’t want to take any risks.”
Houli could have easily won the Norm Smith Medal after a slashing grand final performance that included 25 possessions and a rousing goal.
Prestia battled injuries through his first season at Richmond but had a superb finals series averaging 27 possessions and five tackles, also kicking two goals.
Nathan Broad has been used in the JLT Series but will now serve an internal suspension of three senior matches after sending photos of a topless woman without her consent.
He can play VFL during that time, with Jayden Short and Reece Conca the options to replace him as a mid-sized half back.
Round 1 of the VFL season only starts on April 1 but there are several VFL practice matches in coming weeks that will provide match practice for Richmond players not in the senior team.
Balme said the Tigers were optimistic they had put in enough work over a summer light on for injuries.
“We are in good shape. Only Shaun Hampson hasn’t done that much.
“He is getting more work done on his back.”