Richmond coach Adem Yze says the Tigers will obtain a serious elevate from the return of vice-captain Jayden Quick however is not going to rush to recall a number of returning stars.
Dion Prestia (hamstring) and Noah Balta (knee) are each within the body to face the Western Bulldogs in spherical 9 however Yze mentioned it was too early within the season to be risking key gamers.
The coach mentioned final month he regretted selecting Prestia to face Carlton off a five-day break in spherical 1 given his damage historical past, and on Friday famous Port Adelaide “could be kicking themselves” after selecting hamstrung captain Connor Rozee for its Showdown defeat.
He mentioned senior midfielder Jack Graham might have confronted Fremantle on Sunday, however was not price risking as he managed his personal hamstring criticism.
“That’s what we don’t wish to occur … our gamers are too essential, (the Energy) clearly decided on Rozee (Thursday) night time however they usually’re in all probability kicking themselves at present on that call,” Yze mentioned.
“If this was a ultimate, there’s an opportunity that (Graham) might play, however he’s simply too essential.
“To go and threat certainly one of our key leaders and a extremely essential participant in our footy membership and in our workforce … the possibility of him hurting it once more and going out for a month would simply be loopy, irrelevant of what number of guys we’ve received injured in the intervening time.”
Quick educated absolutely with none strapping on his injured calf at Punt Street on Friday together with Prestia, whereas Tom Lynch joined within the warm-up as he works in the direction of a return from a hamstring tendon damage within the second half of the season.
“There was a risk that (Quick) might have gotten up and even performed final week, so we went with no-risk – he’s too essential, we took the week,” Yze mentioned earlier than Friday’s session.
“He’s had an incredible week on the monitor and hopefully will get by at present and he’ll play.
“He’s a spirit lifter for our footy membership and our workforce. So to have a frontrunner, he’s a vice-captain, a terrific halfback, to be again in our aspect – we actually missed him final week.
“We love his drive off halfback. So to get some excellent news across the damage entrance is sweet for not solely us as a membership, however our workforce.”
With out Lynch and Balta the Tigers have struggled to supply a aggressive rating, however Yze mentioned they remained dedicated to taking part in attacking, thrilling soccer no matter personnel or dealing with robust opposition.
“We have now no problem with eager to play an aggressive model of footy … we now have a go, we wish to win the ball again actually shortly and take the sport on,” he mentioned.
“We wish to play an thrilling model of footy on offence, so we wish to convey that out on Sunday.”
