RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has forecast the possibility of more than one change for Friday night's blockbuster qualifying final against Geelong at the MCG, declaring Josh Caddy a certain starter.
Caddy will return after three weeks sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving Hardwick's match committee with a difficult decision to make after the Tigers ended the season in top form.
Anthony Miles, Sam Lloyd and Corey Ellis have also made strong bids for a recall through the VFL, with the possibility of rain on Friday night set to factor into the Tigers' selections.
"There might be a couple of difficult conversations. It's that time of year," Hardwick said on Thursday.
"Caddy is fully fit. He'll play. He's an important player to us, I love what he brings to the table.
"He adds to our flexibility and he's just a really good, solid player that wins contested ball and kicks goals.
"(Miles) is a possibility. 'Milesy' has been in terrific form all year … the conditions come into [his] favour as well."
While Jacob Townsend was the player who came into the team to replace Caddy, he has kicked 11 goals in two matches and Hardwick has declared he would hold his spot.
Josh Caddy at this morning's open training session
The coach also backed forward Jason Castagna, who has played every game this year but has not kicked a goal in his past four matches, winning just four possessions against St Kilda in round 23.
"He hasn't hit the scoreboard for a couple of weeks, but his defensive pressure and his ability to halve and win contests keeps him in the side on a weekly basis," Hardwick said.
"We probably know on any given day one of those [small forwards] is going to be quiet, but they're the sum of the parts.
"Without those three to four guys, we're not half the side we should be or can be.
"Those players are really important to us and we expect them to play their role on the weekend."
While Geelong will have the edge in finals experience, Hardwick said the Tigers were fortunate to play in front of big crowds regularly, with approximately 95,000 fans expected at the MCG on Friday night.
The coach said he wanted his players to embrace the pressure and hype of finals football, accepting that the club's recent September record was poor.
"This is a different side … it's by far the best side I've coached (and) the way they play the game, I think, stands up to a finals brand," Hardwick said.
"We're pretty fortunate in a way at the Richmond footy club that we consistently play in front of 70-80 thousand people.
"At the deck across the road (the MCG) I think we've played 11 games this year and we're 9-2. Those two games we lost by a kick. We're pretty happy to be playing there.
"We've lost some finals along the way but we've also won 10 flags along the way, which is exciting. We're a pretty good footy club … we keep putting our heads up."
