Richmond will welcome a trio of stars back into it's line-up for Thursday night's blockbuster clash against Carlton at the MCG, with Tom Lynch, Dustin Martin and captain Toby Nankervis all confirmed to play.

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Star key forward Lynch will make his highly-anticipated return when the Tigers face the Blues in the traditional Round 1 meeting, after nearly a year on the sidelines due to a foot injury.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, coach Adem Yze said the team was stoked to have him back.

"We're just rapt that he's smiling, he's fit, and he's ready to go and go perform, doing what he loves," Yze said.

Superstar Martin, who missed last Saturday's Opening Round with a corky, will add a huge boost to the Tigers' midfield and forward line.

"He'll get a bit of both. He'll play forward, he's had an interrupted couple of weeks, but we do like what he does at centre bounce," Yze said.

"Having him and Shai (Bolton) with the flexibility of playing forward and midfield is a blessing for us."

Ruckman Nankervis sat out of Richmond's two pre-season clashes and the Opening Round due to a foot issue, but has recovered in time for the Thursday night game and will provide the side with plenty of on-field experience and leadership.

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Rounding out the inclusions is tough forward Rhyan Mansell, 23, who has received the nod to return after he suffered a syndesmosis injury in the Tigers' pre-season clash against Melbourne last month.

Out of the Opening Round side which fell to Gold Coast last Saturday is Jacob Koschitzke, Sam Naismith, Samson Ryan and Sam Banks, who have all been omitted. 

Naismith and Banks have been named as emergencies, alongside Tom Brown.

A bumper crowd is expected for the Thursday night reunion between the two rivals and the Tigers' first game at the 'G in 2024, which kicks off at 7.30pm and will be broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.

After a game of momentum swings against Gold Coast last Saturday, and a similiar theme in the Blues' Opening Round win over Brisbane, Yze said capitalising on momentum had been a focus of the Tigers' Round 1 preparations.

"When we've got (the momentum), how to maintain it, and if we are struggling, how we can stem the flow," he said.

"We can't give up 11 goals in a row, that's not good enough. But on the flipside, kicking seven in a row is a terrific way of gaining momentum and maintaining it."

"I think the first 10 minutes are going to be pretty full on tomorrow night, which is a good thing. Our players are ready for that."

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Round 1, Richmond v Carlton, Thursday, March 14, 7.30pm AEDT, MCG (Swipe across on mobile)

Backs

Dylan Grimes

2

Tylar Young

45

Josh Gibcus

18

Half-Backs

Jayden Short

15

Nathan Broad

35

Nick Vlastuin

1

Centreline

Kamdyn McIntosh

33

Tim Taranto

14

Jack Ross

5

Half-Forwards

Maurice Rioli

10

Liam Baker

7

Shai Bolton

29

Forwards

Noah Balta

21

Dustin Matin

4

Tom Lynch

19

Followers

Toby Nankervis

25

Jacob Hopper

22

Dion Prestia

3

Interchange:

Daniel Rioli

17

Thomson Dow

27

Marlion Pickett

50

 

Rhyan Mansell

31

Seth Campbell

44

 

 

Emergencies:

Tom Brown

30

Sam Naismith

24

Sam Banks

41

 
In:
Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch, Toby Nankervis, Rhyan Mansell
Out: Jacob Koschitzke (omitted), Sam Naismith (omitted), Samson Ryan (omitted), Sam Banks (omitted)