Polak a step closer to a senior return for Tigers
Samantha Lane | July 14, 2009
GRAHAM Polak needs to prove he can still hold down a key position if he is to win a senior berth with Richmond after recovering from brain injuries, but a best afield performance in the VFL was another step towards that milestone.
Polak, who was put in a medically induced coma for two days after being hit by a tram just over a year ago, received glowing praise from Coburg coach Craig McRae after his outstanding weekend performance playing in the ruck and on a wing.
"He was sensational," McRae said of the 25-year-old after Sunday's match.
"Just the way he's gone about it over the last couple of weeks, he looks like the 'Polly' of old … I'm not on the match committee at Richmond but if you just talk solely on Polly's form, his last couple of weeks have been terrific."
Richmond's match committee meets today and Polak's performance will be noted, but while the player will be anxious to win a senior berth before his contract expires at the end of this season, the club will tread cautiously. "There's no line through his name in terms of selection," the Tigers' head of football, Craig Cameron, said yesterday.
"Clearly this is the best game he has played since the incident. Whether that materialises into senior selection this week is up to match committee and that call hasn't been made at this point.
"What I would say is that we would be looking for him to hold that sort of form and performances. We have to make sure that he can hold that form, and there's no reason why he can't. He has improved obviously as this season's unfolded."
Polak's only lingering physical after-effect of the accident is that he is more prone to feeling fatigued. He is also playing in a helmet.
The No. 4 pick of the 2001 national draft, Polak played 73 matches for Fremantle before joining Richmond in 2007. He finished seventh in the Tigers' best and fairest and, after being used in attack, defence and in the ruck, was arguably the most improved player in the competition that season.
Richmond's current view is that if he is to add to the senior side, it will be in a key position and the likely scenario is that Polak will be given the opportunity to prove himself in that role before he is seriously considered a chance to play seniors.
After leaving hospital at the end of July last year Polak resumed training with the Tigers in November.
He played an intraclub match in February and a NAB Challenge match against St Kilda in March, but the Tigers have been mindful of managing his expectations throughout his recovery.
Meanwhile, Cameron remained optimistic about the prospects of seemingly vanquished veteran Tigers Nathan Brown, Mark Coughlan and Joel Bowden returning to the seniors at some point this year.
Brown booted two goals for Coburg in his return from a groin injury on Sunday and Coughlan and Bowden were among the team's best players.
"We're not publicly retiring any of our players at the moment. Obviously Kane (Johnson) retired himself but we're not retiring any of the others, we've still got a fair chunk of the season to go," Cameron said.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews/polak-a-step-closer-to-return/2009/07/13/1247337075179.html
