Tiger Maric could go under the knifeJennifer Phelan
afl.com.au
February 22, 2014 8:55 PMRICHMOND ruckman Ivan Maric could be set for ankle surgery with the Tigers weighing up how to handle the injury that has dogged his pre-season.
And the club’s No.1 draft selection from last year, Ben Lennon, will be on the sidelines for at least the next month after tearing his knee cartilage during the week.
Maric, after having groin surgery at the end of last season, has been on a modified program for much of the summer.
He missed last Friday night's NAB Challenge loss to Melbourne and then Saturday's win over Collingwood in Wangaratta.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick revealed after the 48-point win over the Magpies that Maric could need an operation if the ankle didn't progress.
"We just don't know at this stage. It's just one of those things; he might go in and it might be a small clean up, we're not too sure," Hardwick said.
"We've got to assess how he goes. He's probably in the hands of the doctor at the moment.
"It's been a bit of a drawn out process so at some stage we've probably got to make a decision on which way we go.
"We've just got to see how it pulls up over the coming weeks."
While Jack Riewoldt is rated a "certainty" to return from quad soreness on March 7 against Essendon in a practice match at Punt Road, the news isn't as good for Lennon.
Richmond football manager Dan Richardson confirmed to AFL.com.au that Lennon was likely to undergo surgery at the start of next week on the damaged knee cartilage.
He is expected to miss at least a month.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-02-22/maric-could-face-surgery