Moore a key for AFL's injury-hit TigersSam Lienert
Ninemsn
19:09 AEST Fri Jul 13 2012 Richmond feared AFL defender Kelvin Moore might never play again but he's suddenly looming as a key player in his comeback game against Gold Coast in Cairns on Saturday.
A week after losing key defender Dylan Grimes long-term to a hamstring injury, the Tigers might be without another tall backman, the injury-prone Ben Griffiths, for the Cazaly's Stadium clash.
Griffiths was subbed off with calf tightness against Melbourne last round.
While he was named on Thursday night, defensive coach Justin Leppitsch admitted ahead of Friday's final training session that he was not certain to play.
"We still have to wait to do a final test now and see whether he gets up," Leppitsch said.
He added the Tigers would take a very cautious approach, given Griffiths' high rate of previous injuries.
Griffiths did little in the session to suggest he would take his place.
It means the pressure will be on Moore, who was previously a key plank in the Tigers' defence, but has not played at AFL level since 2010 because of a horrific hip injury likened to that of a car crash victim.
"I didn't expect he'd play again, to be perfectly honest. I can say that now that he is playing," Leppitsch said.
"He had such a severe injury.
"But the way he's handled it and come back and played (in the VFL) in the last month has been so good that he's forced his way into the team.
"It's a good news story, it's always great when an older player overcomes a long-term injury to get a game."
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