Riewoldt in doubt; Hardwick feels Prestia pain
RICHMOND could be without Jack Riewoldt as well as Dion Prestia for the immediate future after injuries compounded an opening-night loss to Carlton that prompted Tigers coach Damien Hardwick to say the new-look Blues could win the premiership.
Hardwick revealed Riewoldt had a suspected thumb fracture that could require surgery, while the extent of Prestia’s hamstring injury, which had him substituted in the second quarter, would be known after scans.
“It’s a hamstring, how severe we’re not too sure ... it’s just disappointing,’’ Hardwick said. “He’s had a good pre-season. He’s so important to the way we play. I feel like he’s barely (played) for, you know, 2½ years.
“He’s a significant loss, big loss, I just really feel for the kid.
“He was really disappointed ... it’s a challenging stage for him.
“I think Jack might have fractured his thumb, so we’ll have scans to confirm that. That’s why he went off early. He struggled to hold the ball tonight.”
Hardwick experienced a strange case of deja vu on Thursday night that could propel the Carlton faithful’s earlyseason excitement to fever pitch. As Hardwick helplessly watched on in the final quarter as Blues recruits Adam Cerra and George Hewett combined with the rejuvenated Matthew Kennedy to tear Richmond’s midfield to shreds at the MCG, the triple-premiership coach was certain he had seen something like that before.
It brought back memories for Hardwick of Richmond‘s wildly successful recruiting spree that preceded its recent golden premiership run and he doesn’t see why the Blues can’t emulate the Tigers.
“No question,” Hardwick said when asked if Carlton could win the flag this year.