Richmond rule out tough onballer Jack Graham from AFL Grand Final

Jack Graham is the first player to suffer Grand Final heartbreak while for GWS two stars appear close to massive returns in the decider.

Jack Graham’s shoulder is too much of a risk.

Richmond has made the heartbreaking decision to rule heroic on-baller Jack Graham out of Saturday’s Grand Final against the GWS Giants.

Graham dislocated his shoulder in the first quarter of Friday night’s preliminary final win over Geelong at the MCG, but was able to play out the match with the joint heavily strapped.

But the Tigers on Tuesday announced that Graham wouldn’t have the chance to win a second premiership medal.

The Tigers confirmed on the risk of re-dislocation was too great for Graham to play at the MCG on Saturday.

“We’re so proud of Jack for playing on after he was injured on Friday night, he is the ultimate team man,” said Richmond general manager of football Neil Balme.

“He has tried his hardest to be available and we commend him for that, but there’s a high probability that he will re-injure himself in Saturday’s game, which has influenced our decision.

“While he may not be out there, his contribution to the team this season has been invaluable.” Graham injured his shoulder in the first term of the preliminary final but returned to the field to play out the game against Geelong.

The 21-year-old is already a premiership player, having kicked three goals in the 2017 AFL Grand Final.

The Tigers have a number of options available as potential replacements for Graham, who has played 16 games this year.

Midfielder Jack Ross — who shapes as a like-for-like replacement — and Kamdyn McIntosh were both withdrawn from Sunday’s VFL grand final as injury cover for Graham and defender Nathan Broad, who is looking to prove his fitness after suffering a concussion against the Cats.

Nathan Broad and Jack Graham sprint during a Richmond Tigers training session.

Broad was in the thick of things at training and star defender Dylan Grimes was optimistic on a potential return for his fellow defender.

“He’s in good spirits, he seems back to normal,” Grimes said.

“I’m not sure whether he’s passed the testing and that sort of stuff yet but from all regards, talking to him just before, he seems back on Earth, which is a good result.”

The Tigers could swing a bold move and hand a debut to mid-season recruit Marlion Pickett in place of Graham after he was named best on ground in the VFL decider with 20 disposals, nine tackles and a goal.

It looks less and less likely that star rookie Sydney Stack might get the call up after he struggled to have any real impact in the VFL decider and was hobbled by a knock to his right ankle in his return from injury.

GIANTS UNDER THE PUMP TO PROVE FITNESS

GWS star Lachie Whitfield is on course toplay in Saturday’s AFL grand final, while Wednesday looms as a crunch day for teammate Stephen Coniglio.

Giants general manger of football Wayne Campbell expects co-captain Phil Davis to play after experiencing calf tightness, Coniglio will assess whether he’s done enough work after missing nine matches with a knee injury and Whitfield is back running after having appendix surgery last Wednesday.

“He (Whitfield) is up and moving. He had a run around today so without any significant hurdles between now and then he will play on Saturday,” Campbell said.

Lightly framed Whitfield, who can play in several positions, sometimes gets protection from his teammates and Heath Shaw suggested that might be the case on Saturday.

Lachie Whitfield almost demands to be picked for the Grand Final.

“I think there will be an element of that but he is a good player,” Shaw said.

“He does get targeted because he is a good player but Lachie is very tough for a skinny little runt.

“He’s one of the toughest players I’ve played with and he just pushes through pain and he won’t complain.

“He’ll keep going after it, and that’s why we love him and that’s why we rate him so highly as a player.”

Richardson suggested the call on Coniglio would come down to the player himself, who recently signed a seven-year contract extension.

“He’ll train tomorrow and we’ll see how that goes,” Richardson said.

“We would never put pressure on him, he’ll almost make the call I reckon as to whether he’s done the work.”

Shaw also had faith in Coniglio to make the right call for the team.

Key defender Davis didn’t do much on Tuesday, but Richardson wasn’t too concerned about the calf tightness, which comes from the player’s back and he has experienced before.

“We think he’ll be up and running come Saturday 230,” Richardson said.

—With AAP