Tigers to give King chance to revive career, Astbury's year may be over (H-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Richmond to give Jake King chance to revive career, David Astbury might not return from injury in 2014
Jon Ralph
Herald-Sun
June 14, 2014

JAKE King will get the chance to save his career later this season, but the Tigers are unsure if defender David Astbury will return from knee surgery before Round 23.

The feisty and controversial Richmond forward King is as few as three weeks away after foot surgery but needs to stake his claim if he is not to be delisted.

He will not meet a clause in his contract giving him an extra season if he played a dozen games, and seems likely to be playing his last season.

But Richmond football manager Dan Richardson confirmed he was on track to return in 3-5 weeks to push his claims.

“He is a couple of weeks away from being available. He will comes off the long-term injury list in a few weeks and fitness and form will see what happens then,’’ he said.

“He has been really diligent with his rehab and he is working really hard to get back.”

The Tigers cracked down on King’s interaction with former bikie boss Toby Mitchell earlier this year, but it was a distraction he did not need given his shaky place on the list.

Astbury was Richmond’s best player until he suffered reoccurrence of a patella injury in Round 9 that in 2011 cost him a year on the sidelines.

But the Tigers believe the young full back is still a chance to resume in the last weeks of the year or at least for the start of the next pre-season.

“He had some surgery to stabilise his patella. It’s still early days but we think it’s been successful.’’ Richardson said.

“In terms of time frame to get back, he is still a slim chance to get back late in the year, but we will see how he progresses. It is probably too early to know.

“It is a similar injury but we are confident he will have a full recovery, it’s just whether he gets back this year. If he doesn’t he will be right to have a full pre-season.”

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick this week refused to discuss the future of former captain Chris Newman, who has expressed a wish to play on.

He said those discussions would be held in private, with Newman, 32, but still providing valuable leadership.

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/richmond-to-give-jake-king-chance-to-revive-career-david-astbury-might-not-return-from-injury-in-2014/story-fndv8t7m-1226953691823

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I like kingy.
stuff yas!!

[Go Richo 12]

Same, at least he plays with passion and has some poo in him.

[WA Tiger]

What a load of crap, why would we bother FFS, I love Kingy too but bloody hell from a business perspective why the hell would we play him. Get Darrou in there or one of our other recruits/younger players for the rest of the year. King will not be there next year but lest see who wants to be there next year. This will be a bad decision if he plays, it will show we are not looking at progressing our players but Hardwick is trying to salvage as many wins late in the season when it is shot so he and his stats look better.

Load of poo!!!!!

[Simonator]

Dont bother playing Astbury, just get him absolutely cherry ripe for pre season. Vital player for us moving forward if he can stay healthy.

[tigs2011]

Expecting Kingy straight back in tbh.

[Jackstar is back!!!]

King at his best makes us a better team
Needs to be injury free .if is .gets another year
If not .gone

[WA Tiger]

If he is not going to be relisted, which I highly doubt he is, WTF would you play him???? Its just NOT good business and it makes no sense!!!!