AFL pre-season news: Jason Castagna hurt at Richmond training as forwards push for spotAn injury has come at the worst possible time for an out-of-favour Tiger. And as he awaits his diagnosis, others are impressing. Latest notes and news from Punt Road.
Jon Ralph
HeraldSun
February 12, 2023 - 4:28PMRichmond Jason Castagna will be desperately hoping his hamstring injury doesn’t hamper his round 1 selection chances as he attempts to re-establish himself as a premier small forward in a contract year.
Free agent Castagna suffered hamstring damage in Richmond’s match simulation hitout on Saturday but the club will only know the extent of the injury by Monday.
After playing at least 21 games in all five seasons from 2017-2021, the three-time premiership player fell out of favour after a lean start to the 2022 season.
The busy pressuring forward was dropped after only 10 goals to round 11 and while he returned in round 16 he kicked only two goals in his final five games of the season across two separate stints.
Castagna, 26, is yet to enter contract talks with Richmond despite his free agency status but a player who kicked 26.20 and 27.28 in premiership seasons would have value when at the peak of his game.
At Richmond this year Maurice Rioli, Noah Cumberland and Judson Clark will all be vying for that small forward role alongside stars Dustin Martin and Shai Bolton.
Martin and Bolton were in sparkling form in Saturday’s clash in a intraclub in which Jack Riewoldt kicked four goals, Clark three and last year’s mid-season selection Jacob Bauer kicked two goals as a 192cm forward.
Triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin will also spend some time forward this year in a midfield that seems stacked for options.
It means Castagna will need to be at the top of his game to play the kind of onfield role that maximises his contract worth.
Richmond will conduct another more intense match simulation hitout next week ahead of an official match simulation against North Melbourne on February 24 and an official practice match against Melbourne on March 4.
Star pair Tom Lynch (plantar fascia) and Jack Graham (turf toe) are still on track to play some minutes in those clashes.
Fellow Richmond free agent Nathan Broad was rested for Saturday’s match simulation but will be fit for those clashes.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-preseason-news-latest-pictures-training-updates-from-richmond-as-dustin-martins-forward-move-confirmed/news-story/2e53eac6ccd1b06377c9d67487901524