Tigers duo ready to return for finals run

RICHMOND pair Jack Graham and Reece Conca should return from injury for the Tigers well before September’s premiership charge.

Graham (dislocated shoulder) was one of a trio of Tigers to go down in their win over Adelaide, joining Nathan Broad (broken cheekbone) and Dan Butler (ankle).

Graham is the AFL’s thirdbest pressure player and will hope to miss as little as a month as he regains strength in the joint. Surgery would likely end his season given a three-month recovery date, with Richmond doctors able to put the shoulder back in its joint in the rooms.

Conca said on Friday he could be back within 4-6 weeks after dislocating his ankle but dodging bone or major ligament damage.

The Tigers believe Bachar Houli will finally be fit to slot straight back into the Richmond side after a groin injury. He hasn’t played since Round 10.

Nick Vlastuin will be back from a one-week suspension, with Butler’s ankle injury to be assessed during the week. CARLTON says Caleb Marchbank could still be fit to take on St Kilda on Friday night despite an elevated heartbeat during the loss to Brisbane. Marchbank was assessed at hospital after sitting out the last quarter with the worrying symptom. HAWTHORN ruckman Ben McEvoy could miss as much as six weeks of football with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone. If he needs surgery as expected, he will miss a minimum of a month and potentially longer, a blow for the Hawks’ finals charge.