Matthew Richardson no certainty to play
29 July 2006
Herald-Sun
Michael Horan
RICHMOND may go into its crucial clash against St Kilda at the MCG today without star forward Matthew Richardson.
Richardson, 31, has played in pain and failed to kick a goal in three of four games since returning from surgery after breaking his wrist in Round 9.
Tiger coach Terry Wallace would not say if Richo was right to take his place, but with talls Ray Hall and ruckman Greg Stafford named as two of the three emergencies, the whisper around the club is there will be at least one late change to the 22 selected.
The logical conclusion would be Richardson is the man who would miss, but the club wasn't divulging anything yesterday.
Asked if Richardson trained at the club's closed session yesterday, Wallace said reluctantly: ``Why?'' before adding: ``He had a light session with Nathan Brown. He didn't do a lot.''
In Round2 at Telstra Dome, Richmond pushed St Kilda all the way before going down by just 11 points in a low scoring, lock-down affair.
Wallace said this time it was clearly the Saints' tall scoring power that was the biggest threat to his side.
``The two talls - the Gehrig-Riewoldt scenario is the key to the match. If they can be controlled you're some sort of chance and if they get out of control its obviously going to be pretty difficult to get a result,'' Wallace said.
He said Richmond must win one of the next two to be a fighting chance to make the eight, citing a Round22 clash against the West Coast Eagles as a possible blockbuster finish the home and away season.
The Tigers have eight wins and would need at least 12 - probably 13 given their poor percentage - to make the eight.
Richmond is confident Kelvin Moore will not endure the lengthy idle period he had last time after he aggravated a groin injury last weekend.
The hapless Moore missed the the first eight weeks of the season due to a severe groin injury and it took until Round15 for him to force his way back into the Tiger line-up. In only his second senior game for the year the same groin again gave way.
``He aggravated the groin last week but the medical staff seem to think he may only miss one or two matches,'' Richmond football manger Paul Armstrong said.
All-Australian defender and dual best and fairest Joel Bowden is the welcome replacement for Moore after the star defender served a one-match suspension.
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