Richmond Tigers track watch: Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch on light duties as pre-season training

Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch on track – albeit on light duties – was good news for Tigers fans as Richmond continues to ease their veterans through the pre-season.

Richmond star Dustin Martin has rejoined teammates on the training track but remains on light duties after rolling his ankle last week.

The 2017 Brownlow Medal winner had missed a light summer session in Beaconsfield on Tuesday, but was back on deck at Punt Rd on Wednesday morning.

Martin only took part in some basic handball drills with the rehab group, before jogging some laps for a large part of the session.

However, the Tigers expect him to be back in full training in coming days.

Key forward Tom Lynch still remains a little way off joining main training and was again limited to some light drills and jogging as he continues his recovery from a troublesome foot.

Teammate Jack Graham said on Tuesday that while it had “been tough” for Lynch – who did not play after round 4 last year – the spearhead was finally making some progress in his recovery.

Veterans Dion Prestia and Dylan Grimes were also on light duties on Wednesday as they are carefully managed through pre-season, as was captain Toby Nankervis who headed into the gym early as he completes an individual program.

Noah Cumberland and Jacob Bauer were also part of the rehab group, while ruck recruit Sam Naismith completed a mixed program.

Tom Lynch was limited to some light drills and jogging as he continues his recovery from a troublesome foot. Picture: David Crosling

BOL LEADING THE WAY

Australian track star Peter Bol was on hand to show Tigers players the way as they did some running at Punt Rd.

Bol was invited to training through a connection with a high performance staff member and will be doing some work with the rehab group going forward.

Bol led the way as the main group completed a lap of the oval to kick things off during their warm up, before going on to run some laps with players including Lynch.

A two-time Olympian for Australia, Bol was also a silver medallist in the 800m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Tiger Seth Campbell runs laps with Australian 800m runner Peter Bol. Picture: David Crosling

NO MORE WORRIES

While Lynch’s absence from the main group remains a concern, a trio of other senior players are back in the thick of it after interrupted pre-season campaigns.

Forward Shai Bolton and midfielder Jack Ross trained fully with the main group, while key defender Josh Gibcus also took part in almost all of the session.

Bolton had post-season ankle surgery and was on a restricted program before Christmas, but looked to be moving well as he zigged and zagged past opponents during drills.

Ross also had post-season surgery on his big toe but is quickly building his workloads back up, while Gibcus (hamstring) has been cautiously managed after an injury-ravaged 2023.

Joshua Gibcus took part in almost all of the training session. Picture: David Crosling

STILL PUSHING THEIR CASES

The Tigers are yet to make a decision around their final list spot, with two players continuing to train as part of the supplemental selection period (SSP).

Mitch Schofield and Mykelti Lefau were again on the track on Wednesday as they push their cases to earn a rookie spot ahead of the close of the SSP window on February 19.

Schofield, 22, bagged 30 goals in 19 WAFL games for East Perth last year as a 194cm forward.

Lefau, 25, has been part of Richmond’s VFL program and is a 195cm forward who can also pinch-hit in the ruck.

Originally published as Richmond Tigers track watch: Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch on light duties as pre-season training