Tiger Deledio set to do it by halvesDinny Navaratnam
AFL.com.au
March 8, 2016 10:35 AMRICHMOND star Brett Deledio is set to line up for his first game in 2016 on Thursday night against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium, says coach Damien Hardwick.
Deledio has struggled this pre-season with a lingering calf injury, but the 28-year-old will play half the game.
"We've had a pretty conservative approach with Brett but we're looking forward to putting him on the park and having his first run," Hardwick said.
The first picked in the 2004 NAB AFL Draft, Deledio is known for his durability. He has never played fewer than 18 games in a season, the number he managed in 2015.
Hardwick also flagged the return of forward Tyrone Vickery, who missed the Tigers' second pre-season game against Hawthorn with concussion.
Hardwick said talk surrounding his contract extension was expected and he would let the club announce it when it is eventually signed, as AFL.com.au reported on Monday.
"I think from most coaches' point of view, it's part and parcel of what we do."
Half-back Chris Yarran had come on much quicker than expected and Hardwick said the new recruit could be lining up in the yellow and black very soon.
"(Yarran) hasn't really played a lot of match practice, so it's just whether we throw him in there and see how he goes," Hardwick said.
"We've got match committee this afternoon, so we'll have a look at it."
Hardwick also flagged the possibility of Yarran playing in Richmond's VFL team before the home and away season begins.
Yarran, 25, was originally expected to miss the first third of the season with a calf injury.
The former Carlton player was traded to the Tigers for No. 23 in last year's NAB AFL Draft.
At this stage, Yarran is a chance to play against his former team in round one. He was training with the rest of his teammates on Tuesday.
"He's surprised all of us. We're looking forward to him playing some footy early in the season," he said.
"Nathan Drummond is the only player I think who's unavailable for round one."
Drummond is recovering from a torn ACL.
Ruckman Shaun Hampson will open his 2016 campaign against the Power.
"(He's) coming through an ankle surgery, which took a little bit longer than we would've liked to get back on track, but he's been training really well over the last two weeks," Hardwick said.
Forward Ben Griffiths wore a helmet during training. He was concussed against Fremantle in Richmond's opening pre-season game after being bumped by Aaron Sandilands and has suffered the injury multiple times.
Griffiths isn't sure yet whether he will wear the helmet during games.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-03-08/deledio-set-for-first-2016-appearance-after-lingering-calf-injury
