Daniel Rioli under Round 1 doubt as fit and hungry Tigers prepare to launch back-to-back-flag tilt

RICHMOND enjoyed an excellent run with injuries in its premiership triumph and the signs are looking good that will continue into 2018.

RICHMOND will ramp up its premiership defence with a near fully-fit list when players resume training on Monday.

Players across the league face a series of rigorous running and skinfold tests as part of routine new year fitness assessments early next week.

The Tigers are confident their playing list will remain hungry and avoid the complacency issues which dogged the Western Bulldogs in 2017.

EIGHT REASONS: WHY TIGERS CAN GO BACK-TO-BACK

And in an added bonus for Richmond, the only players working their way back from serious injury issues are livewire Daniel Rioli (foot) and speedster Nathan Drummond (ACL reconstruction).

Rioli, 20, broke his foot in the stunning Grand Final win over Adelaide and required immediate surgery.

The third-year goalkicker is facing an uphill battle to be fit to play in the Round 1 season-opener against Carlton at the MCG on Thursday March 22.

Football chief Neil Balme said today the Tigers were buoyed by Rioli’s progress but would not take any risks with the exciting youngster.

Daniel Rioli in action in the Grand Final before breaking his left foot in the final quarter. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Rioli with coach Damien Hardwick at the Tigers best-and-fairest count. Picture: Tim Carrafa

The Tigers have a bunch of quality small forward replacement options and are likely to be extremely cautious with Rioli’s recovery, likely putting him in some doubt for early-season matches.

“We are really happy with how he is going, but there is obviously no rush with it,” Balme said.

The Tigers’ top pick in last year’s draft, bullocking small forward Jack Higgins, looms as a ready-made replacement for Rioli if he remains sidelined for the early rounds.

The strong-bodied Higgins, 18, has impressed at training since he was taken with pick No. 17 in November’s draft.

But he faces stiff competition from the Tigers’ premiership mosquito fleet including Dan Butler, Jason Castagna, Jacob Townsend and Shai Bolton, who are all gunning for a Round 1 berth.

In other good news, key forward-ruck Ben Griffiths is also in line to resume full training next week after another nightmare season plagued by ongoing concussion issues and a shoulder injury. He played only two senior games last season and 28 in total over the past three years.

Griffiths, 26, trained before Christmas and could tempt coach Damien Hardwick into playing a taller forward line next season alongside spearhead Jack Riewoldt.

Meanwhile, Richmond is unlikely to appoint a direct replacement for departed talent chief Dan Richardson who joined Essendon as football manager late last year.

The Tigers confirmed there was likely to be a minor rejig with key officials Balme, respected list chief Blair Hartley and coaching boss Tim Livingstone likely to absorb some of Richardson’s key duties.

They include list management, high performance, AFLW and the club’s next generation academy.