Injury crisis may force Tigers to rush Caddy's return AFL.com.au
Ben Collins
Mar 31, 2019 RICHMOND forward Josh Caddy could be rushed back next week without a previously planned VFL hitout, as the Tigers try to counter a season-threatening injury crisis.
AFL.com.au understands Caddy – who has overcome an ankle injury that limited his pre-season – was originally scheduled to play a half in the Tigers' VFL season-opener against Geelong next Friday night.
However, injuries to defender Alex Rance and, particularly, key forward Jack Riewoldt could force a rethink by the Richmond brainstrust, with the prospect of a potentially underdone Caddy partnering boom recruit Tom Lynch in a restructured attack now looming as a genuine possibility.
The 1-1 Tigers, who suffered a 44-point defeat to Collingwood at the MCG on Thursday night, face another tough assignment in round three against Greater Western Sydney at Giants Stadium.
Caddy feels sufficiently prepared to play immediately at AFL level without a VFL warm-up but knows he will first have to convince coach Damien Hardwick of his fitness.
"I've ticked all the boxes now, done all the training now, so I'm ready to go," Caddy told Channel Seven on Saturday night.
"What level that's at next week I'm not sure yet, but I'll have to knock on Dimma's door during the week and tell him I'm ready to go.
"There are a few spots (vacant) unfortunately, so we'll just have to wait and see. But I'm just rapt to be able to get back out there next week and have a kick.
"We've got a few young boys going pretty well – Cal Moore and Noah Balta – so I'm vying for a spot against those boys."
Caddy, 26, enjoyed a career-best 2018 season in which he kicked 46 goals – second at the club only to Riewoldt (70) – before undergoing minor ankle surgery in the off-season.
A premiership star with Tigers in 2017, the former Sun and Cat has played 139 games and kicked 143 goals.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-03-30/injury-crisis-may-force-tigers-to-rush-caddys-return
