AFL 2022 Richmond v West Coast: All the latest news, reaction from the round 16 contest

Dustin Martin won’t play this weekend against Gold Coast, but Richmond coach Damien Hardwick won’t be surprised if his hamstrung star is back in the Tigers’ side a week later.

Chris Cavanagh, Nick Smart and Nick D’Urbano

5 min read

July 4, 2022 - 9:00PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

Dustin Martin will miss the clash with Gold Coast. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

AFL News

Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick wouldn’t be surprised if hamstrung superstar Dustin Martin only missed one week of footy.

The game-changing superstar won’t play in this weekend’s clash with Gold Coast after scans, on Monday, confirmed he had suffered a slight hamstring strain.

Martin was subbed out of the Tigers’ Sunday win over West Coast early in the third quarter, with Richmond taking no risks after he experienced some “hamstring tightness”.

But Hardwick is optimistic his Brownlow medallist could make it back in less than a fortnight for a date with North Melbourne.

Dustin Martin will miss the clash with Gold Coast. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

“He had a scan today … he’ll be out this week and he’ll probably be doubtful for week two at this stage,” Hardwick said on Fox Footy’s AFL360.

“But Dustin’s had these sorts of injuries before where he’s missed a game and then played the next one.

“He’s a strong lad obviously and once again Dusty at a really high level is really important to us.”

Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

The 31-year-old had been in some of his best form this season before the injury, collecting 17 disposals, four clearances and kicking one goal.

The Tigers said on Monday Martin would be reassessed next week.

Richmond – which has won seven of its past nine games – faces Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday afternoon, before a Round 18 clash with the bottom-of-the-table Roos.

Tigers were able to turn the tide after Martin went off. Picture: Getty Images

Martin missed round 14 with illness but has played every other game since returning from personal leave in round eight.

Hardwick was full of praise for Martin’s “electrifying” first-half performance, in particular his ball use, which helped set the tempo for the Tigers during the first half.

“He was really good,” Hardwick said.

“He had his agility back, the ability to move the ball and see the ground. His kicking was ‘a one’ today also. He had a good game. A really good game.”

The Tigers should regain onballer Dion Prestia from concussion protocols this week, but are still without midfielder Trent Cotchin (collarbone) and key defender Noah Balta (hamstring).

“He’s (Prestia) fine. He’s running and then he’ll do some training … and then we’ll assess from there,” he said.

“Once again, we’re confident he will get up but the docs have the say on that.”

Dusty was red hot before injury struck. Picture: Getty Images

Tigers regain spot in eight after responding to scare

—Nick D’Urbano

Richmond regained their spot back inside the top eight to end the round, after seeing off a spirited performance from a rejuvenated West Coast outfit by 35 points at the MCG.

The Tigers were tested by the Eagles from the word go and had to get it done without the services of Dustin Martin for much of the second half after he was subbed off with a hamstring injury.

Martin was putting his case forward for a sure-fire best on ground performance with a prolific first-half performance, which was shaping up to be his best outing of the season thus far as he helped the Tigers build a 39-point lead early in the third term.

However, the Eagles didn’t lay down easily and looked like a far cry from the side who folded like a cheap suit by 109 points earlier this season against the Tigers.

Dustin Martin was subbed out in the third term. Picture: Getty Images

West Coast brought the margin within as low as 11 points late in the third quarter as the likes of Tim Kelly (40 disposals, nine clearances) and Luke Shuey (26 disposals, 11 clearances) got to work off the back of the tremendous ruckwork from the returning Nic Naitanui.

In the end, the Tigers flexed when it mattered showcasing enough class and grit to put the game to rest in the final-term – booting five final quarter goals to two – and secure their ninth win of the season which takes them into seventh on the ladder.

Daniel Rioli (28 disposals, nine score involvements) and Nathan Broad (20 disposals, 11 marks) were sensational for the Tigers and led the way from the back half while they spread the load from a scorer’s perspective as 12 individual players hit the scoreboard with seven of those kicking multiple goals.

Out of contract Liam Baker also shone against the side he has been heavily linked with this off-season, kicking two important goals to stem the Eagles’ flow in the second half to go with 21 disposals.

Despite yet another defeat, Adam Simpson will take plenty of positives out of the performance as the Eagles put together one of their best performances this season to date.

Even without Josh Kennedy, the Eagles still found a way to goal, kicking their second highest score this year.

However, they will be sweating on the fitness of Elliot Yeo who was subbed out of the game with a hamstring injury – continuing his wretched run of misfortune on the injury front this campaign.

Nic Naitanui made his return against the Tigers. Picture: Michael Klein

NIC-NAT RETURNS

West Coast are slowly starting to regain the cavalry in the tail end of the season and Nic Naitanui was the latest to make his long awaited return to senior footy on Sunday afternoon.

Naitanui had been on the sidelines for almost three months since injuring his medial ligament back in round four against Collingwood and after a dominant showing in his comeback game for the Eagles’ WAFL side last week, the ruckman was thrusted back into side to play only his fourth game this season.

It was no easy task for the two-time All-Australian who went toe-to-toe with imposing premiership ruck duo Toby Nankervis and Ivan Soldo but Naitanui put in a vintage performance, giving the Eagles midfielders first use with his tremendous tap-work and follow up as he finished the game with 19 disposals, 26 hit-outs and six clearances.

Daniel Rioli is off to the races! ðŸ”¥#AFLTigersEagles pic.twitter.com/6Y3b0ZcSyM
— AFL (@AFL) July 3, 2022

DAN RIOLI SHINES AGAIN

Daniel Rioli is having some season off halfback.

Fresh off one of his best performances since making the move to the back six late last season, Rioli backed up his sensational outing from eight days prior with another eye-catching showing – doing damage at both ends of the grounds with his solid defensive and attacking output.

Rioli was able to stamp his authority on the contest particularly in the second-quarter where his rebound off halfback helped set the tempo for the Tigers, ending with 28 disposals, nine score involvements and 478 metres gained along with a superb running goal early in the term.