Richmond will be ‘surprised’ if Tom Lynch isn’t ready for Round 1 as the Tigers consider their ruck options

AFL clubs are being encouraged to play two genuine rucks in 2019. But the Tigers might be about to buck the trend in Round 1. JON RALPH has the latest on Toby Nankervis and Tom Lynch as well as a possible selection ‘Balta’.

Toby Nankervis faces a big workload in Round 1. Picture: AAP Image

Richmond is likely to back in workhorse Toby Nankervis as their sole ruckman next Thursday despite new rules encouraging teams to play two genuine rucks.

The Tiger have trialled 204cm ruck Ivan Soldo during the pre-season but his lack of a second position could count against him against the Blues.

After playing almost exclusively as a forward in the JLT win over Melbourne, Nankervis was in 41 of the ruck contests against Hawthorn, with Noah Balta in 22 and Soldo in 19.

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With backup premiership ruckman Shaun Grigg injured, 194cm swingman Noah Balta could yet squeeze into the team after strong ruck contributions in the JLT Series.

The Tigers are yet to come close to finalising their team but Balta is a much more adaptable player when not in the ruck than Soldo.

Carlton is set to play ex-GWS ruckman Andrew Phillips after strong pre-season form, meaning Matthew Kreuzer will be forced to come back through the VFL.

Richmond could use Toby Nankervis one out in the ruck in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

Kreuzer had minor knee surgery in mid-January and while he is nearly ready to play he has been told he will need a game in the VFL to prove his fitness.

Phillips has played six games in the past two years for Carlton but rucked strongly in tandem with Harry McKay in the narrow loss to Collingwood on Monday in Morwell.

As many as six players could pull on Carlton colours for the first time, with Alex Fasolo pushing hard to join Round 1 locks Sam Walsh, Will Setterfield, Michael Gibbons, Nic Newman and Mitch McGovern.

The Blues will rest their players over the weekend instead of giving them more game time in a Richmond v Carlton VFL practice match on Thursday.

Walsh has been superb all pre-season as the No. 1 overall pick, while Setterfield and Newman are Round 1 certainties.

Gibbons locked in his Round 1 spot with three goals in the first JLT contest, while McGovern will build into the season after missing several weeks with a back injury.

Richmond is still confident but not certain star recruit Tom Lynch will take part in the season opener, with the ex-Suns forward yet to officially thrust his name forward.

Richmond football boss Neil Balme said on Monday injured trio Grigg, Josh Caddy and Jason Castagna were not yet in a position to put their hand up for Round 1.

Has Noah Balta done enough to debut in Round 1? Picture: Michael Klein

Lynch has been in full training for several weeks and trained again on Monday at Punt Road, with Balme saying he would be “surprised” if he didn’t take on Carlton.

But coach Damien Hardwick has said it is up to Lynch to declare his fitness and put his hand up for Round 1 after passing a series of medical test on his surgically repaired knee.

Soldo could still come into calculations against clubs with multiple quality ruckmen or teams with a dominant ruckman who needs to be neutralised.

Richmond’s medicos have made it clear they do not want Lynch playing in the ruck, so even if he does play the Tigers would still need someone to help out Nankervis for several minutes per quarter.