4:16:27 PM Mon 24 May, 2004
Paul Gough
Sportal
Richmond giants Brad Ottens and Greg Stafford have escaped serious injury and will be available for Saturday’s daunting trip to Perth to take on West Coast.
The two Tiger ruckmen ended last Saturday night’s game on the bench, as the Tigers’ crashed to a 78 point loss to Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, with knee and foot injuries respectively.
And with Jay Schulz also nursing a corked thigh, the Tigers were so light on for height in the dying minutes that they were forced to use Andrew Kellaway in the ruck.
However Richmond football manager Greg Hutchison said Ottens and Stafford would be ready to face the Eagles on Saturday as the Tigers make their second straight road trip and their third in the past four weeks.
“Brad had an MRI scan on his knee and it was all clear,” Hutchison told Sportal on Monday.
“He will just have a light week on the track this week and we expect him to play.”
Hutchison said Stafford had been suffering some “nerve impingement” in his foot but had been given the all-clear by the club’s medical staff while Schulz’ knock was only minor.
The availability of Stafford and Ottens is a huge boost in what shapes as a season-defining game for the Tigers.
Not only will their availability ensure the Tigers go to Perth with a huge ruck advantage against a team struggling to overcome the loss of its number one ruckman Michael Gardiner but also gives the Tigers the option of using one of Ottens and Stafford in attack, where the Eagles have struggled to cover tall players all season.
But while the Tigers suffered no serious injuries in Adelaide, there could still be changes to the team which crashed so badly in Adelaide. Justin Blumfield, Ty Zantuck, Kayne Pettifer and Ben Marsh all impressed in the VFL on Sunday, .
With four wins from nine games the Tigers are still only out of the eight on percentage but their percentage of 75 is the worst in the AFL with all five of their losses this season being by more than seven goals.
However the Eagles are also coming off a huge loss, a 101 point mauling at the hands of St Kilda on Sunday, and with just three wins are a game behind the Tigers.
The Tigers have not won in Perth since 2001 but did win on interstate soil, in Sydney, in round seven this season.
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