Richmond track watch: Jacob Koschitzke continues in defensive role
An ex-Hawk continues to train in defence as the Tigers look to cover two key pillars of the back six. Plus a number of draftees are in the frame for game time next month in the lead up to round 1.
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Jacob Koschitzke is looming as the defensive cover Richmond sorely requires in the wake of key absences that will stretch into the first portion of the season.
The positional switch-up from forward to defence has been in the works since before Christmas but the experiment could pay off early for the Tigers, with Koschitzke in full defensive mode at Punt Road on Wednesday morning as the team desperately looks to a key pillar in the absence of Noah Balta (suspended) and Josh Gibcus as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury.
Gibcus was on Tuesday ruled out of at least the early rounds of the season, while Balta will miss at least the first four games of the season after he was charged by police with assault earlier this month.
Koschitzke has played 62 games — including 48 for Hawthorn before joining Richmond at the end of 2023 — and kicked 66 goals but was originally drafted as a fullback.
As many as six untried Tigers could make the trip to Perth in a fortnight where the team will face West Coast on February 17.
Draftee Luke Trainor could line up alongside Koschitzke in defence, while Thomas Sims — who was taken at pick 28 — featured at full-forward in a number of drills at Punt Road on Wednesday morning, working in cohesion with premiership forward Tom Lynch who is at full fitness.
Big-bodied midfielder Sam Lalor remains firmly in the frame to play in Round 1 but completed some work indoors due to management with heavy match simulation sessions to bookend the week on Monday and Wednesday, while ballwinning counterpart Dion Prestia also completed only 45 minutes of the two-hour session on the ground before heading inside.
Fellow midfielder Josh Smillie suffered a minor hamstring injury earlier this week but could still face the Eagles, while initial fears that Jasper Alger had suffered a knee injury this week were allayed when it was discovered to be a hyperextension.
Forwards Jonty Faull and Harry Armstrong are also considered chances to feature in the coming weeks.
Former Tigers Jack Graham and Liam Baker are both now Eagles, though the latter was forced from the training track on Wednesday after appearing to injure his ankle in an awkward landing, leaving questions as to whether he will take on his former side.
Ruck Samson Ryan played as a key forward throughout Wednesday morning’s session, while Kamdyn McIntosh wore a “no contact” hat for the entire session.
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Originally published as Richmond track watch: Jacob Koschitzke continues in defensive role
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