Richardson and Ottens to return
By Nabila Ahmed
June 15 2002
The unexpected early return from injury of key forwards Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens is set to strengthen Richmond as it prepares to take on Port Adelaide at Football Park tomorrow week.
The Tigers are in the grip of a form slump in which they have lost their past three matches, and have been banished to 13th on the ladder with a win-loss ratio of four-seven.
But they are hoping the likely comeback of spearhead Richardson (hamstring), ruckman-forward Ottens (calf), and defenders Leon Cameron (calf) and Royce Vardy (groin) will bolster their ranks against the Power in the second-half of the split round.
"That's four of our senior players back in, and three of those are key-position type players. So we've certainly missed that in the last few weeks," said Richmond football operations manager Trevor Poole yesterday.
"And Cameron's experience and run off the back line has always been a valuable asset and he'll be a great asset to the side as well," he said.
Poole told The Age the club was confident two-time All-Australian Richardson would be fit for the trip to Adelaide, a week earlier than first expected.
"Richo is looking like he's going to be fine. He'll make a full recovery if not already," he said.
Ottens, who was a devastating loss before last week's match against the Kangaroos because of a calf strain, could also make an early comeback next weekend, Poole said.
"Ottens is improving and is back jogging and things like that with a calf strain, so it's just a matter of how he progresses through the week and then be tested. Same with Vardy and the same with Leon Cameron."
Poole said Richardson, who received the minor hamstring tear in round six after a three-week layoff with the same complaint, had been taking part in the team training sessions up until last week, after completing his treatment and running program. "This week, he's just doing a lot of running and match simulation type activity, given that most of the side's away having some break," he said.
"Next week he'll join in full training and probably have a final test or check but we're expecting him to be available to play next week."
Poole said the Tigers had taken extra precautions to prevent further aggravation of the injury.
He said Cameron, who has been recovering from a calf strain after being forced out of the round-seven match with Sydney because of a buttock injury, and Vardy, who has been out since round eight, would both be tested next week.
If all four pass their fitness tests, Rory Hilton (shoulder) would be the only non-long-term injury on the Tigers' list, with Ben Holland (knee) and Marc Dragicevic (knee) ruled out for the season. Poole said Hilton would try a comeback through the VFL in about three weeks.
By Nabila Ahmed
June 15 2002
The unexpected early return from injury of key forwards Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens is set to strengthen Richmond as it prepares to take on Port Adelaide at Football Park tomorrow week.
The Tigers are in the grip of a form slump in which they have lost their past three matches, and have been banished to 13th on the ladder with a win-loss ratio of four-seven.
But they are hoping the likely comeback of spearhead Richardson (hamstring), ruckman-forward Ottens (calf), and defenders Leon Cameron (calf) and Royce Vardy (groin) will bolster their ranks against the Power in the second-half of the split round.
"That's four of our senior players back in, and three of those are key-position type players. So we've certainly missed that in the last few weeks," said Richmond football operations manager Trevor Poole yesterday.
"And Cameron's experience and run off the back line has always been a valuable asset and he'll be a great asset to the side as well," he said.
Poole told The Age the club was confident two-time All-Australian Richardson would be fit for the trip to Adelaide, a week earlier than first expected.
"Richo is looking like he's going to be fine. He'll make a full recovery if not already," he said.
Ottens, who was a devastating loss before last week's match against the Kangaroos because of a calf strain, could also make an early comeback next weekend, Poole said.
"Ottens is improving and is back jogging and things like that with a calf strain, so it's just a matter of how he progresses through the week and then be tested. Same with Vardy and the same with Leon Cameron."
Poole said Richardson, who received the minor hamstring tear in round six after a three-week layoff with the same complaint, had been taking part in the team training sessions up until last week, after completing his treatment and running program. "This week, he's just doing a lot of running and match simulation type activity, given that most of the side's away having some break," he said.
"Next week he'll join in full training and probably have a final test or check but we're expecting him to be available to play next week."
Poole said the Tigers had taken extra precautions to prevent further aggravation of the injury.
He said Cameron, who has been recovering from a calf strain after being forced out of the round-seven match with Sydney because of a buttock injury, and Vardy, who has been out since round eight, would both be tested next week.
If all four pass their fitness tests, Rory Hilton (shoulder) would be the only non-long-term injury on the Tigers' list, with Ben Holland (knee) and Marc Dragicevic (knee) ruled out for the season. Poole said Hilton would try a comeback through the VFL in about three weeks.
