Richmond’s probabilities of clinging onto their finals place have taken a success with affirmation Dustin Martin can be sidelined for a minimum of the remaining of the house and away season.
Martin has solely performed eight video games in a closely interrupted season, which started with an prolonged go away for private causes.
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The Brownlow medallist performed within the Tigers’ opening recreation however then wasn’t seen again for nearly two months as he took time to grieve the loss of his father.
He quelled rumours he might name time on his profession when he returned in spherical eight – however has since battled a hamstring harm.
On Thursday, Richmond coach Damien Hardwick confirmed Martin was formally dominated out for the remaining of the house and away season and wouldn’t return until the Tigers play finals.
“The regular season he won’t play any further part, and if we make it (finals), he’ll be putting his hand up to play,” Hardwick stated at Punt Rd on Thursday.
“Probably speaking to Dustin really how he feels and where our medical staff think it is, just to give himself the best opportunity.
“We want to give him the very best opportunity to play at his best, we know what he’s like at this time of year (in finals)
“If we get there, he’ll certainly have a significant part to play.”
The information means Martin might have performed his final common season recreation for the Tigers, with stories persisting that he’s eyeing a transfer to Sydney.
Elsewhere across the league, Dan Hannebery’s long-awaited return from harm has been rapidly soured, with the Saints confirming he’ll miss this week’s conflict in opposition to Brisbane.
St Kilda coach Brett Ratten revealed he was more likely to relaxation the 31-year-old even earlier than his newest harm.
The luckless midfielder suffered an ankle harm within the Saints’ heavy loss to Geelong final spherical, which was solely his second match of the season resulting from persistent calf issues.
Ratten has dominated Hannebery out of Friday evening’s Marvel Stadium conflict – however stated it had already been on the playing cards because of the six-day turnaround.
“He won’t get up, we’re going to manage Dan,” Ratten stated forward of coaching at Moorabbin on Thursday.
“It was a conversation that we had even before last weekend’s game around a six-day turnaround for a player that hasn’t played a lot of footy and the risk of playing him.
“We were having that conversation and then with the ankle, the risk probably becomes greater and allowing Dan to get through this weekend and be ready for the following week will be really important.
“So we’ll manage him and he’ll have the weekend off.”
Ratten stated the 31-year-old had been in a position to full some coaching this week, with the harm not as severe as initially feared.
However he didn’t assume it was well worth the danger regardless of the excessive stakes of the sport, with the ninth-placed Saints needing victory to maintain their finals hopes alive.
“With the ankle, it’s an easy one to manage,” Ratten stated.
“We have to look after Dan as well.
“The game is super important for us – we can’t shy away from that so picking our best team but we’ve got to make sure that everyone can get through as well, that’s important.
“We’ve got to make sure we’ve got 22 fit men to run out the game.”
– With AAP
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