Gaspar almost certain to return
12:58:37 PM Mon 1 August, 2005
Andrew Wu
Sportal for afl.com.au
Richmond defender Darren Gaspar has been given a 95 per cent chance of returning to face Fremantle at Subiaco this Saturday but midfielder Mark Chaffey and the concussed Matthew Richardson are in more doubt.
Gaspar, who strained his hamstring against St Kilda in round 16, and Chaffey - troubled by a groin complaint - were both late withdrawals from the side that lost to Carlton on Sunday when they pulled up sore after training on Friday.
But Tigers assistant coach Brian Royal stressed the pair had not aggravated their injuries and were confident of their availability for the crucial clash with fellow finals aspirant Fremantle.
"I'd be very surprised if Gaspar didn't play next week. He'd be a 95 per cent chance to play next week and Chaffey probably a little bit less. He's a 70 per cent chance to play," Royal said on Monday morning.
Royal said the Tigers never considered allowing star forward Richardson to return to the field after he was severely concussed but he remained a chance of facing the Dockers should he pass all the regulation tests for concussed players.
"The feedback we got from the medical staff throughout the course of the game was that he was certainly concussed. I think it took him a fair bit to work out where he was initially, so when that's the course you don't hesitate about those sort of things. We're just governed by what the medical staff tell us," Royal said.
"There's a process that players have to go through and he'll be sat down and have to go through the tests that they'll be put through and that will determine whether he plays or not."
Experienced defender Andrew Kellaway will see a surgeon on Monday to see when he can resume playing after suffering a broken jaw against Essendon in round 15, but according to Royal he could be a fortnight away from playing.
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