Richardson eyes Bombers
Martin Boulton | May 26, 2007 | The Age
RICHMOND'S Matthew Richardson said he's "looking forward" to playing Essendon at the MCG tonight but medical advice still could rule out the injured Tiger, according to coach Terry Wallace.
The 32-year-old fractured his left eye socket in last weekend's match against Adelaide but was named in the Richmond squad for tonight's game.
Bruising still surrounds his eye a week after he was accidentally kicked by a teammate.
"When he knocked on my door on Monday morning to say he was at least keen (to play), he looked like a prize fighter from one of the Rocky movies," Wallace said.
Richardson completed yesterday's training session at the Punt Road Oval — his first for the week — but Wallace said a final decision on his availability would be based strictly on medical advice. "Matthew asked us whether we could leave it open for him until the completion of the week to see if he could come up (and) the only way we could do that was to select him in the side to give him every chance," Wallace said.
"He was never definitely going to play, he was probably more definitely not going to play for most of the week, (but) we thought, No. 1, for everything he's done for the club, you give him every opportunity to play … he's a key player for us and we wanted to do that.
"Also, from the point of view of the other players, to see one of your guys trying that hard with the type of injuries he's had, I thought it was a good message for some of our younger players."
He said Richardson was still "very, very keen" to play at the start of yesterday's session but the club's medical staff were "far more reserved" about his condition. "I think he got through the session all right but he certainly won't be playing without our medical staff saying he's right to play," Wallace said.
"He's come along very, very well and I've been absolutely amazed with his efforts, but that's what he's like, he's a heart-and-soul player for this footy club.
"If you ask Matthew, he'll be saying he wants to play and he's right to play, but he's got to get medical clearance to play."
Former Geelong forward Kent Kingsley and second-year player Matthew White were pulled out of a Coburg Tigers training session to train at Punt Road yesterday and Wallace said "Kent is obviously one" player who could replace Richardson.
He said Shane Tuck, who spent part of yesterday's session on the boundary line, would play.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/richardson-eyes-bombers/2007/05/25/1179601669716.html
