Tigers premiership pair poised to return for clash with SaintsDaniel Cherny
The Age
June 22, 2021Richmond are likely to regain triple-premiership pair David Astbury and Dion Prestia for Friday night’s MCG clash against St Kilda as the Tigers seek to keep alive their flagging top-four chances.
However Tiger pillars Toby Nankervis and Tom Lynch have been ruled out of contention for the date with the Saints, despite closing in on returns from their respective knee injuries.
Astbury (Achilles) hasn’t played since the round 10 loss to the Brisbane Lions but the Tigers listed him on Monday as “probable” for this week, as they have with injury-prone midfielder Prestia (hamstring), who is in line to return less than three weeks after being hurt in Richmond’s win against Essendon at Optus Stadium.
The Tigers gave away a hint of their impending selection moves this week when Marlion Pickett and Daniel Rioli played in Richmond’s drawn VFL game against Williamstown on Sunday.
Pickett and Rioli are both senior incumbents, playing in the round 13 loss to West Coast in Perth, but appear likely to be squeezed out of the AFL 22 this week given they played at the lower level over the weekend of Richmond’s senior bye.
Hugo Ralphsmith, who was the Tigers’ unused medical substitute against the Eagles, also played in the thriller against the Seagulls.
Backman Astbury could in-effect take Pickett’s role as backup ruckman behind Mabior Chol, who has been holding down the no.1 role in the absence of the injured Nankervis and Ivan Soldo.
While they have a relatively favourable fixture in the back half of the season, Richmond will begin round 15 two wins and 23 per cent outside the top four. Only one side - the Western Bulldogs in 2016 - has won the premiership from positions 5-8 since the advent of the current finals system.
Lynch is listed as a “short-term” proposition on the Tigers’ website, while Nankervis is out for the “medium-term.”
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-premiership-pair-poised-to-return-for-clash-with-saints-20210621-p582xx.html
