Richmond coach Damien Hardwick is eagerly awaiting Marlion Pickett’s first game for the Tigers, in the VFL against Casey Demons at the Swinburne Centre on Saturday afternoon.

The talented, mature-age midfield recruit, from WAFL club South Fremantle, has been sidelined with a broken index finger since arriving at Tigerland via the AFL’s mid-season draft.

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But after spending a couple of months in the players’ rehabilitation group, alongside the likes of seasoned Tiger stars such as Alex Rance and Jack Riewoldt, he’s now ready to resume his football career.

“I haven’t seen him play in the flesh . . . we’re really excited,” Hardwick said.

“It’s like sitting at the Christmas tree unwrapping a package.

“We’re not quite sure what he’s going to bring. But what we do know is he can play the game.

“He’s played the game at a high level, at the WAFL level, and we’re hoping that transfers.

“Our recruiters have got very high hopes for this young fellow.

“He’s had a hell of a journey and we’re looking forward to rewarding that journey at some stage.

“He’s another great story.”

Fresh off signing a two-year contract extension, Jack Ross will play for the VFL Tigers this weekend as he makes his long-awaited return from an ankle syndesmosis injury he sustained in Round 8 against Fremantle.

Fellow first-year player Fraser Turner will also make his return from a femur injury.

Rounding out the inclusions are captain Steve Morris, Charlie Thompson, Hugh Beasley and Patrick Naish, who was Richmond's carryover emergency in last Friday's win over Collingwood.

Richmond VFL will be without Daniel Butler, who has been recalled for senior duty, Tom Silvestro and Lachlan Street.

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The VFL Tigers will host the Casey Demons at 2.30pm at the Swinburne Centre, a curtain raiser to Richmond's 7.25pm clash against Melbourne at the MCG.

Live updates will be available via the Richmond VFL Instagram and Twitter accounts.

VFL Round 18
Richmond v Casey Demons
Saturday, August 3
2.30pm
Swinburne Centre

B: 43. D. Eggmolesse-Smith, 38. N. Balta, 33. K. Mcintosh
HB: 45. P. Naish, 42. R. Garthwaite, 50. M. Pickett
C: 28. F. Turner, 26. R. Collier-Dawkins, 16. M. Weller
HF: 39. J. Aarts, 40. C. Coleman-Jones, 32. L. English
F: 37. C. Menadue, 31. O. Markov, 46. B. Miller
R: 25. T. Nankervis, 27. J. Ross, 21. J. Townsend
Int: 54. J. Ballard, 53. H. Beasley, 78. D. Coffield, 56. B. Grewar, 58. C. Harris, 0. S. Morris, 62. L. Nelson, 60. C. Thompson
23P: 66. B. Henderson

In: C. Thompson, P. Naish, M. Pickett, F. Turner, J. Ross, H. Beasley, S. Morris
Out: T. Silvestro, D. Butler, L. Street