Richmond won't panic as it seeks its first win of season Emma Quayle
The Age
March 23, 2014 Richmond's disappointment at its opening round loss is unlikely to spark any panic at the selection table before Thursday night's match against Carlton.
While Daniel Jackson is available for selection having overcome the hamstring injury that cut short his pre-season, the Tigers will resist tipping too many players out of the side beaten by Gold Coast on March 15.
Carlton will be unable to slot Chris Judd and Andrew Carrazzo into its side, with both midfielders at least one more week away from resuming, but must find at least one new player to replace the suspended Andrew Walker.
The Blues' selection decisions are unlikely to be driven by any injury concerns. The team has not reported any problems since its 33-point loss to Port Adelaide in round one.
Richmond football manager Dan Richardson said Jackson had played about three quarters of Friday's match, after he was injured late in the Tigers' pre-season.
The short turnaround may also count against the 27-year-old, with the club not wanting to rush him back into the senior side before he is fully prepared.
"He played on Friday in the VFL and he'll be better for the run," Richardson said. "Whether he did enough to be up for selection for Thursday I'm not quite sure. That's something that will be discussed later in the week.
"He hadn't played at all, so he needed to get a run in. We'll see what happens during the week but, at this stage, I'd say he would be unlikely to come straight back in.
"We've got a few back in the VFL now which is good, but there's no panic. I wouldn't think we'd be making too many changes this week."
Jackson, the Tigers' primary midfield shutdown player, lined up alongside first-round draftee Ben Lennon, utility Chris Knights and onballer Nathan Foley in the VFL game against Footscray.
Ruckman Ivan Maric is not expected to be playing for at least another few weeks although Jake King, left out of the round one side because he had not been able to get sufficient work in, is fit and under consideration for a return to the forward line.
Lennon, Richmond's first choice at No.12 in last year's draft, played his first game after being sent for minor knee surgery in February, with Knights continuing his journey back from the horrendous knee injury that cut short his first season at Richmond last year.
Walker accepted a one-match ban for rough conduct following the Blues' loss to Port Adelaide, with Kane Lucas, Sam Rowe and young midfielders Patrick Cripps, Dylan Buckley and Nick Holman likely to be considered for a call-up.
Read more:
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/richmond-wont-panic-as-it-seeks-its-first-win-of-season-20140323-hvlx6.html#ixzz2wsRvNW5g
