No rest for the Tigers - full throttle FridayJake Niall
The Age
September 3, 2015Richmond will not rest any players in Friday's clash against North Melbourne, with Brett Deledio recovered from a stiff neck he suffered in the incident that saw Essendon's Courtenay Dempsey suspended.
The Tigers say that with a home final potentially on the line they will select their strongest possible team, with skipper Trent Cotchin – whom the club sat down last Saturday with a sore back – back for Friday night's game, which has the most riding on the result in terms of ladder position.
While North is reportedly considering resting senior players, including star ruckman Todd Goldstein, Richmond football operations head Dan Richardson said the Tigers would not rest players.
"We won't rest anyone," said Richardson, who noted that the Tigers were potentially playing for a home final and could be headed to Adelaide if they lost. "We feel the group is fairly fresh and doesn't need a rest anyway."
Deledio was dazed slightly following his sickening crash into the turf when he was lifted into the air and dumped, in a rugby-style tackle that earned Dempsey a four-week ban.
But Richardson said Deledio had passed a club concussion test and recovered from neck stiffness.
Cotchin did not play last weekend against the Bombers, when he had back soreness and was effectively rested before the finals.
The Tigers have a strong squad to pick from for the final round against North. Ben Griffiths, Reece Conca and Corey Ellis are among the only players who would be in contention for selection who cannot be considered.
In terms of ladder position, the fifth-placed Tigers can jump to fourth in the unlikely event of the Swans going down to Gold Coast at the SCG. But, in a measure of the narrow gap separating teams inside the eight, Richmond could be playing an away final against the Crows if they are beaten by North and the Crows overcome Geelong – although it would be close on percentage.
Realistically, North can overtake the Crows, due to a lower percentage, only if they defeat Richmond and they well could end up playing the Tigers again in the elimination final – at the MCG, rather than at Etihad (Friday's venue) – if Richmond win.
The Bulldogs, who play Brisbane this weekend and are highly favoured to win, would avert the risk of travelling if they defeat the bottom team.
But the Dogs have barely any chance of making fourth, since they need the Swans to be beaten, along with the Tigers.
Fremantle has opted to rest as many as 11 players for their final-round trip to play Port Adelaide.
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/no-rest-for-the-tigers--full-throttle-friday-20150902-gjdtu2.html
