Richmond expects several star players to return before AFL finals
The Tigers will clash with the Gold Coast mindful the rapidly improving Suns have the potential to disrupt their push for a top-four finish
A victory for Richmond over a vastly improved Gold Coast in Brisbane on Monday night will strengthen the club’s hopes of a top-four finish and shore up their title defence.
The Tigers, who will be strengthened by the return of captain Trent Cotchin for the Gold Coast clash, are also plotting a path back for several premiership players who have been absent.
Their presence, provided they are able to build match fitness and touch, could prove crucial for Richmond’s hopes of securing a third premiership in four years, coach Damien Hardwick said.
“It is a constant battle, but it is a constant battle through every year. It is a game of attrition,” Hardwick said.
“We know the fittest sides generally are the sides that go the furthest, so the management of your playing list and the health and wellbeing of your playing list is obviously vitally important, especially at this time of year where you are coming up to a crucial block of games.
“We are very confident we will be able to get the vast majority of our playing list healthy for the back-end of the year and hopefully give ourselves the best chance of playing finals.”
Hawthorn is known as the family club but Richmond is in the midst of a baby boom.
Hardwick joked he would use this to his advantage as a cure for a recent spate of gifting 50m penalties, with Richmond the biggest offenders this season.
The coach said those who breach would be forced to change the nappies of Parker Cotchin, the son of the Tigers captain, in coming weeks in the Gold Coast hub.
Shane Edwards’ partner Samantha has given birth to daughter Mya, which means the senior Tiger is aiming to arrive in Queensland early next month.
After serving a fortnight in quarantine, Edwards would be available to play against the Crows in the last round of the season before finals.
Bachar Houli, who was a late arrival on the Gold Coast for family reasons, including the birth of son Mohamed, has now completed quarantine. But he will be held over for next Saturday’s clash against Essendon.
The star defender is a chance to be joined in the “Dreamtime in Darwin” match by dual-premiership ruckman Toby Nankervis, who has not played since Round 5 due to injury.
A return date for reigning best-and-fairest Dion Prestia, who has an ankle injury, and key defender David Astbury remains unclear but the Tigers are hopeful both will be back.
The clash between Richmond and the Gold Coast caps the first compression of the fixture for the season, ending 20 days of football.
Congratulations to @S_Edwards10 & Sam on the arrival of baby Mya 🥰💛 pic.twitter.com/73mrdVFtwa
— Richmond FC ðŸ¯ðŸ† (@Richmond_FC) August 16, 2020
The Tigers will kick start the next fast-track phase on August 27 with a clash against flag favourites West Coast.
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