TIGERS TO GET THEIR STARS BACK

RICHMOND will feel the selection squeeze with Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin set to return for next week’s blockbuster game against West Coast at the MCG.

Martin (soreness) was withdrawn from yesterday’s 11.7 (73) to 6.9 (45) victory over Carlton, while Cotchin sat out for a second straight week with a minor hamstring injury.

With the Eagles third on the ladder and the Tigers fourth, Sunday’s clash might go a long way towards shaping the top four. Coach Damien Hardwick said he fully expected to have his two Brownlow medallists at his disposal.

“[It was] effectively general soreness, really,” Hardwick said of Martin. “He trained on Friday — he didn’t train long but he trained enough and we thought he’d be OK.

“But he came in the next day and just didn’t feel any better at all really. He actually felt a little bit worse.

“It was one of those ones where we could push the envelope but we thought ‘this is a pretty important player, so let’s take the week instead of forcing something and maybe copping two’. Our expectation is he’ll play this week.

“Trent ran full speed today ... we’ll welcome him back next week [too] which will be good.”

After being battered earlier in the season by injuries, the Tigers have one of the AFL’s shortest injury lists and plenty of competition from below.

Hardwick noted that it had been a similar story in 2017 when the Tigers won the premiership.

“It’s hard to continually say to players that are playing so well at the VFL level that there’s just no position available,” he said. “Those boys are really patient. What they’ve also got to understand, though, is they are a significant part of our journey.

“We had, back in 2017, a couple of changes at Round 21 and 22. That’s a possibility of happening again this year.

“They know they’ve just got to be playing their best footy at the right time and anything can happen.”

Premiership hero Jack Graham booted four goals to seal yesterday’s win. Since their mid-season bye, Hardwick’s men have won seven straight.

The hard-fought nature of the win was underscored by the fact Carlton easily won the contested-possession count and pulled to within three goals during the final term.

But after losing last week to premier West Coast, the Blues again battled out of their weight division against a classier opponent.

Richmond milestone man Shane Edwards was typically influential in his 250th game, gathering 27 disposals and slotting a superb goal on the run.