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Richmond v Hawthorn: Shaun Grigg can handle ruck challengeJON RALPH,
Herald Sun
September 3, 2018 HAWTHORN’S potential double-teaming of ruckman Toby Nankervis will hold few fears for the Tigers as they expand Shaun Grigg’s remarkable back-up role.
The Hawks are a certainty to include star defender James Sicily for Thursday night’s qualifying final but could also include Jon Ceglar after a fortnight out with a sore calf.
They dropped back-up Mark Pittonet for the Round 23 win over Sydney but would be expected to try to exploit Nankervis’s one-out role as the Tigers lion-hearted ruckman.
All year critics have worried about the Tigers’ midfield being exploited when Nankervis heads to the bench, reminded of Adelaide’s brief period of second-quarter dominance in the Grand Final when 190cm ruckman Grigg went into the ruck.
Yet Champion Data statistics show that Grigg this year doubled his time in the ruck, with Richmond ahead by 85 points on the scoreboard when he is in the middle.
Grigg effectively conceded the ruck at times last year before turning into an extra midfielder, but this year he has even won the odd hitout as his ruck time increased from 7 per cent to 18 per cent of games.
The 30-year-old remains one of the few experienced premiership Tigers out of contract as they move closer to securing Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch, but in 20 games he has been consistent.
Richmond seems unlikely to play small forward Dan Butler after his one-goal, three-possession game in the losing VFL qualifying final as he returns from an ankle injury.
But Richmond football boss Neil Balme has effectively declared Kane Lambert a certainty as he recovers from minor ankle surgery.
The Tigers held key defender Ryan Garthwaite and utility Sam Lloyd from the loss as cover for Thursday and they trained instead.
“We are pretty happy with the way (Lambert’s) gone,” Balme said on Saturday night.
“He has only missed a couple of games so he didn’t need to play one. I would be surprised if he didn’t get up.
“(Lloyd) and Garthwaite were very much the next players in line in the selection chop up. For them to play two games in five days is pretty hard.
“I wish the AFL and VFL would talk to each other, it would make it easier for us.”
Hawthorn is sure James Sicily will return to take on the Tigers, two days short of nine weeks since fracturing his wrist.
He trained well all week and fitness boss Andrew Russell said: “Sic is great. We thought all along he would be ready to play in the first final and it’s the way he’s looking.
“He had a full training week and we are excited that he will be out there next Thursday.”
James Frawley will be ready to take on Jack Riewoldt after recovering from back soreness.
GRIGG’S RUCK EFFECTIVENESSWhen Grigg has been in ruck this year the Tigers are +85 points on the scoreboard. Last year they were +29 points on the scoreboard.
2017Time in Ruck: 7%
Ruck Contests: 6.1
Hit-outs: 0.2
Hitout Win %: 4%
Hit-outs-to-Advantage: 0.0
Hitout-to-Advantage Win %: 0%
2018Time in Ruck: 18%
Ruck Contests: 9.8
Hit-outs: 1.1
Hitout Win %: 12%
Hit-outs-to-Advantage: 0.5
Hitout-to-Advantage Win %: 5%
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/shaun-grigg-can-step-up-in-ruck-if-hawthorn-gets-on-top-of-toby-nankervis/news-story/4300160d84fa8d8dce5e45098d6c7941
