Toby Prime
Richmond’s fringe players will have one of their final opportunities to push for an AFL recall when the Tigers meet Port Melbourne in tomorrow’s VFL preliminary final.
Noah Balta returns for the clash at North Port Oval after being omitted from Richmond’s qualifying final side against Brisbane last week.
2017 premiership pair Kamdyn McIntosh and Dan Butler will also be looking to push their names up for AFL selection.
Richmond VFL coach Craig McRae said reserve players were “somewhat” waiting on an injury if they were to crack a preliminary final or grand final berth.
“One of the strengths of our group and this year and in recent years is we have a lot of players playing well and in multiple positions,” McRae said.
“If you don’t play well, and someone else is playing extremely well underneath you, then it puts pressure on.
“That’s been something that has been happening for a few years now.
“It’s hard to change a winning line up but (if) you perform really well at this level and it certainly asks questions of match committee.”
Balta played in the Round 23 clash against Brisbane but was withdrawn from Richmond’s first VFL final against Essendon.
He has played 13 AFL games this year but just one since Round 13.
“He had a corkie that bled into his knee a bit,” McRae said.
“It was nothing major but just prevented him from training and obviously playing.”
Balta has been slated to play in defence but McRae said “we’ll see what the game needs knowing his last game with us … he dominated in the ruck and kicked goals”.
The winner will advance to the VFL grand final, which will be held on September 22 at Ikon Park.
Williamstown and Essendon will meet in the other preliminary final.
