Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has shrugged off a hamstring complaint to be fit for the Tigers’ final practice match against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium today.
As late as Monday, Cotchin was not sure if he would be able to take on the Kangaroos because of the injury.
But having missed Richmond’s first two NAB Challenge games, the star midfielder will head into the highly anticipated season opener against Carlton on April 2 with some competitive match practice under his belt.
Coach Damien Hardwick envisaged Cotchin would play three quarters against North Melbourne.
Joining Cotchin as inclusions in Richmond’s strong 27-man squad are Ben Griffiths and David Astbury, who will play his first official match since round nine last year, when he suffered a season-ending knee injury.
North Melbourne will also field a strong side, with senior players Daniel Wells, Nick Dal Santo and Shaun Higgins all returning after sitting out the Kangas’ clash with Hawthorn a fortnight ago.
Jarrad Waite will, however, be rested to allow North to continue tinkering with the forward setup.
Coach Brad Scott said Waite had played the first two trial games and his absence provides another opportunity to assess 192 cms Mason Wood, who has played one AFL game.
“We’re trying to shuffle our forward line a little bit to work out the best mix. Most teams will probably treat this week as a bit of a dressing rehearsal and we’re no different in some regards, but we still need to manage loads,’’ Scott said.
Richmond
2. Dylan Grimes, 3. Brett Deledio, 4. Dustin Martin, 5. Brandon Ellis, 6. Shaun Grigg, 8. Jack Riewoldt, 9. Trent Cotchin, 10. Shane Edwards, 11. Jake Batchelor, 12. David Astbury, 13. Ricky Pettard, 14. Bachar Houli, 18. Alex Rance, 20. Ivan Maric, 22. Nathan Gordon, 24. Ben Griffiths, 25. Troy Chaplin, 27. Sam Lloyd, 28. Taylor Hunt, 29. Tyrone Vickery, 30. Reece Conca, 31. Nick Vlastuin, 33. Kamdyn McIntosh, 35. Ben Lennon, 36. Matt McDonough, 38. Steven Morris, 48. Kane Lambert
North Melbourne
2. Brad McKenzie, 3. Ryan Bastinac, 4. Shaun Higgins, 5. Ben Jacobs, 7. Jack Ziebell, 8. Daniel Wells, 9. Andrew Swallow, 10. Ben Cunnington, 11. Michael Firrito,12. Lindsay Thomas, 13. Leigh Adams, 15. Nick Dal Santo, 16. Scott Thompson, 18. Shaun Atley, 19. Sam Wright, 20. Drew Petrie, 21. Luke McDonald, 22. Todd Goldstein, 25. Robbie Tarrant, 29. Brent Harvey, 32. Mason Wood, 34. Jamie MacMillan, 35. Aaron Black, 36. Joel Tippett, 40. Kayne Turner, 43. Sam Gibson, 50. Ben Brown
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Lambert, Hunt, Dust, Maric and Lennon on my richmond watch list. Wells, Ziebell, Higgins, Macmillan and Swallow on my north watch.
I can see places for 3 of the above. Maybe 4.
135 Todd Goldstein
121 Jack Riewoldt
115 Lindsay Thomas
112 Ivan Maric
111 Dustin Martin
103 Brett Deledio
101 Shaun Higgins
100 Brent Harvey
100 Ben Cunnington
98 Brandon Ellis
96 Andrew Swallow
90 Daniel Wells
89 Alex Rance
85 Nick Dal Santo
82 Trent Cotchin
80 Michael Firrito
77 Kamdyn McIntosh
77 Shaun Grigg
75 Bachar Houli
74 Drew Petrie
71 Steven Morris
69 Scott Thompson
69 Troy Chaplin
69 Shane Edwards
64 Luke McDonald
64 Sam Gibson
63 Shaun Atley
61 Ryan Bastinac
60 Ben Griffiths
59 Joel Tippett
59 Taylor Hunt
59 Robbie Tarrant
58 Reece Conca
54 Ben Jacobs
53 Mason Wood
48 Ben Lennon
45 Jack Ziebell
44 Jamie Macmillan
43 Ben Brown
41 Kane Lambert
41 Sam Wright
39 Kayne Turner
37 Nick Vlastuin
30 Dylan Grimes
28 David Astbury
24 Sam Lloyd
17 Ty Vickery
11 Jake Batchelor
Few things to take away from this game:
* The new ruck scoring system doesn’t seem to have a negative effect. Goldy and Maric both solid.
* Dusty and Lids are both viable options for your starting line-up. Lids moving fine.
* He’ll always get knocked for his age but Brent Harvey still very much SC relevant. Despite the fact that I haven’t seen him in a single team on RMT thread.
*Ziebell had a day to forget…….but it just seems to happen to him more often. Risky pick.
* Lambert may very well be elevated soon but is he best 22? Not sold on him just yet.
* Higgins looked good out there today……do you dare start with him?
Macintosh gotta be in for a round 1 spot
Not SC related, but god ty vickery does my head in.. showed nothing again today, it’s make or break for him this season
Anyone considering Ben Lennon as a f6? Pod
Eyeballing Maric as R2, inplace for Nic nat