Nahas becomes the third wheel as Tigers' wheel turns Jesse Hogan
The Age
June 21, 2013 He was a mainstay of Richmond's forward line in the past two seasons, outscored only by spearhead Jack Riewoldt. But as the Tigers have dragged themselves into finals contention this season, Robin Nahas has been a notable casualty.
The lively small forward played every match in 2011 and 2012. As well kicking 63 goals (29 in 2011 and then 34), Nahas was renowned for his tackling in the Tigers' attacking half.
But in 2013, Nahas has conspicuously dropped in Richmond's pecking order. His first two appearances were as a substitute – he was dropped after each of those matches – and has not been selected since round nine, despite ranking in Coburg's top two players in his past two VFL matches.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick reckons the change in Nahas' status is due more to the quality of alternative small-forward options rather than a drop in his training or playing standards.
"I think the competition's definitely increased. Robin, to his credit, is actually playing some reasonable football. He's just got to wait for his opportunity to come. I've got no doubt he'll take it [when it occurs]," Hardwick said.
"He's a player that's certainly got some things in his game that we really like. He's a noted goalkicker. At the moment he's basically competing with Shane Edwards and Jake King for a spot, and we think those two guys have got him at the moment."
Of those two preferred small forwards, King is proving to be the primary scoring threat – he has 16 goals in 10 matches, compared with Edwards' seven from 11 – while Edwards ranks fourth at the club for tackles, with 35.
King was this week rewarded with a one-year contract extension.
While Nahas' goalscoring record in the VFL is not dazzling – he has kicked 10 in six matches – Hardwick said he had no qualms with his efforts while out of the senior team.
"He's a quality kid. He's training just as hard as last year, if not harder," he said.
Hardwick also suggested injury-plagued defender Dylan Grimes was not a realistic chance of returning to the seniors before the last month of the regular season.
Grimes is in his fourth season at Richmond but has managed only 22 matches. In 2011 and 2012 he suffered serious hamstring injuries. He overcame those issues to play five of the first six matches this year, until an unrelated foot injury emerged.
Hardwick said Grimes had been cleared on Wednesday to discard his protective moonboot, but was still at least a fortnight away from being able to join his teammates in general training sessions.
"It's just one of those periods where we've got to make sure we don't push him too hard, to make sure it heals appropriately. Then it's probably 3-4 weeks after that to see how he progresses through VFL to AFL," Hardwick said.
"We're not going to rush him at any stage. If he comes back in for the last five or six games of the season that'd be a great result for us."
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