Richmond’s Ben Griffiths set to play in elimination final against North MelbourneHerald-Sun
September 13, 2015RICHMOND’S desperation to avoid a third-straight September failure looks set to be aided by Ben Griffiths’ swift recovery from a nasty finger injury.
The tall forward trained wearing a protective glove on his left hand at Punt Rd yesterday and looks set to take his place against North Melbourne at the MCG.
Griffiths, 23, had surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his ring finger seven weeks ago but has recovered ahead of schedule.
Sports medical expert Dr Peter Larkins yesterday said it was “an 8-10-week injury every day of the week for most players”.
The injury was similar to Matthew Lloyd in 2002, who also returned wearing a glove and was famously targeted by Western Bulldogs defender Steven Kretiuk.
Griffiths, fellow inclusion Reece Conca and emergency Steven Morris all trained with the senior Tigers yesterday.
Unlucky omission Ben Lennon appeared despondent as he hit Punt Rd earlier with a group of players overlooked for today’s blockbuster.
Conca has battled constant hamstring injuries this year and has played just two AFL games after five in the VFL.
He hasn’t played at any level since Round 19 but has been training at full capacity for nearly a month and the Tigers like his pace and clean ball use.
Veteran defender Troy Chaplin left the track early yesterday but also looks set to line up in today’s blockbuster.
Coach Damien Hardwick will lead the Tigers into the finals for the third consecutive season for the first time since 1971-75.
But while that golden run delivered two premierships under legendary coach Tom Hafey, today’s Tigers are still shooting for the club’s first September victory since 2001.
Hardwick’s side led at every change only to be mowed down by a Chris Judd-inspired Carlton two years ago and last year the Tigers were ambushed by Port Adelaide.
Hardwick is the Tigers’ third longest serving coach behind Hafey and Tony Jewell but is still chasing a breakthrough September win.
The Tigers finished the home-and-away season 15-7 and with a percentage of 123.1 — their highest since 1982.
Hardwick said his side was much better placed to win a final than 12 months ago, owing to a splash of new players, improved maturity and organic growth.
Griffiths was tested with a series of one-on-one contests against David Astbury yesterday and seemed to mark the ball with comfort.
“Ben ruptured the tendon in his ring finger on his left hand that allows him to bend his finger in towards his palm,” Larkins told 3AW.
“It’s the most important tendon in the whole hand, it’s an 8-10 week injury every day of the week for most players after surgery to repair it.
“Ben Griffiths is six weeks down the track, he had a boxing glove on his hand (to protect it last week).”
Griffiths will partner in-form spearhead Ty Vickery and superstar Jack Riewoldt in attack as the Tigers try to stretch the Kangaroos’ backline in today’s expected sunshine.
“Ben trained Tuesday and got through and we thought he might be a chance. He then trained really well on Thursday and did everything asked of him,” Richmond assistant coach Brendan Lade said.
The Tigers smashed a depleted North by 41 points last week, ending a run of five-straight losses.
Richmond has not beaten North Melbourne at the MCG since 2006.
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