AFL DAILY: Dion Prestia injury scare, rolling footy news for Monday, August 26, 2019
Richmond has received some unwelcome news on the eve of the finals with All-Australian candidate Dion Prestia suffering an achilles problem after the win against Brisbane. RECAP TODAY'S FOOTY NEWS
Richmond expects Dion Prestia will play against Brisbane despite achilles soreness after the best season of his AFL career.
Prestia was today named in the All-Australian squad and, after joining Tom Lynch in playing every game this year, could take out the Tigers' best-and-fairest.
He was exceptional in the win over Brisbane with 30 possessions, 669 metres gained and 116 ranking points.
But he has some achilles soreness from the game which football boss Neil Balme said should settle down in time to play the Lions on Saturday week.
RECAP ALL TODAY'S FOOTY NEWS IN THE BLOG BELOW
"I think he was a bit sore but (the medicos) are not worried about it," Balme said.
"He was a bit sore towards the end and they would rather he wasn’t but they are not too concerned about it.”
Richmond plays Essendon in the VFL finals on Saturday, which means ruckman Toby Nankervis will get a run after groin issues.
The club is worried about his capacity to play as many as four finals in a row but hopeful he will continue to improve after mid-year groin surgery.
Trent Cotchin would have likely played if available to get more miles into his legs after only 11 games this year and one since Round 19.
But all players who took part in the Round 23 AFL game are ineligible for the VFL finals.
The Tigers VFL side had a bye last weekend so it will be a critical hit-out for the club’s depth players, including Ryan Garthwaite, Mabior Chol, Jacob Townsend, Patrick Naish and Connor Menadue.
THE TACKLE: AFL FINALS SYSTEM ALL ABOUT MONEY
FORM GUIDE: WHAT WILL DECIDE EVERY WEEK ONE FINAL
SUPER LADDER: ANDO'S WORD ON EVERY FINALIST
Originally published as AFL DAILY: Dion Prestia injury scare, rolling footy news for Monday, August 26, 2019
Updates
Inside deadline day: How close did Smith deal come to disaster?
Bailey Smith was left to wait until the last minute of the trade period as a host of key deals unfolded in a frantic final 30 minutes. Those closest to the Smith deal reveal how it went down.
‘Quite confronting’: Kane Cornes fires back
Kane Cornes has doubled down on his criticism of Port ruckman Ivan Soldo as the war of words between the two took a fresh turn.