Tigers could recall four flag stars for SunsJennifer Phelan
afl.com.au
Aug 6, 2018 5:27PMDAMIEN Hardwick could be thrown the best kind of selection dilemma this week with up to four premiership Tigers a chance to be available for their Saturday clash with Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
Nathan Broad, Dion Prestia, Jack Graham and Bachar Houli could all come into the frame this week after overcoming a variety of injuries.
Dan Butler and Reece Conca are also expected to put their hands up over the coming weeks, with the latter a chance to resume in the VFL this weekend after dislocating his ankle in round 15.
With no obvious omissions given the evenness of their performances over the last fortnight, whoever comes out of this week's team as the Tigers look for their first interstate win for 2018 can be deemed unlucky.
Complicating the situation further is the team's clean bill of health from Friday night's win over Geelong, plus the fact they're not preparing to rest players in the lead up to finals.
"We're not resters, we're players," Richmond football manager Neil Balme told AFL.com.au on Monday.
"I don't think we've ever thought that much about resting blokes, we'd much rather play them than rest them.
"I think players would rather play than not."
Toby Nankervis is the one that springs to mind when thinking about which players – if any – the Tigers should manage over the next three weeks, given he's the team's sole specialist ruckman.
But Balme declared Nankervis was expected to see out the remaining three home-and-away rounds ahead of the bye before the start of finals.
"I don't think he'd be happy if we left him out," he said.
Broad missed Friday night's win with calf soreness and "disruption" he picked up against Collingwood, which flared during the captain's run on Thursday, while Prestia missed with the rib he fractured in a collision with Magpie Travis Varcoe.
Both will be considered if they train strongly this week.
Graham and Houli will also need to prove their fitness after rehabbing slightly more complicated complaints.
Graham hasn't played since dislocating his shoulder in round 16 against Adelaide but remains in good shape given the nature of his injury and could come straight back into the AFL side.
"He's certainly done a lot of work, a lot of running, so he just hasn't had the contact stuff," Balme said.
"As long as he trains throughout the week, he should be available to play as well and selection will decide where he'll play."
Graham has been declared fit to play again this year but will undergo surgery at the end of the season to tighten his shoulder.
Houli had 15 possessions in a half of the VFL team's loss to Geelong on Saturday after last playing in round 17.
"He played what we expected him to play so he'll be available for this weekend and it's a matter of making the decision on whether we do or don't play him," Balme said.
"He played pretty well for the half a game he was prescribed, so if he can get the work done this week, we'd be pretty confident he could play.
"It's only that he's missed a reasonable amount of footy, whether we play him at VFL or AFL, selection will decide that."
Houli has played just one AFL game since round 10 because of a lingering groin complaint.
Butler won't play at any level this week but is back running after his round 16 ankle injury.
Complicating his return is the fact the VFL team has a bye the following week, coinciding with round 22 of the AFL.
Balme said they would "play it by ear" with how they manage the premiership forward's return.
Conca needs to get through training this week to line up in Saturday's clash with Williamstown in what will be a remarkable comeback after the graphic ankle injury he suffered just 39 days ago.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-08-06/tigers-could-recall-four-flag-stars-for-suns
