His place on the Tigers’ long-term injury list has been taken by forward-ruckman Ty Vickery, who will be sidelined for the rest of the season following shoulder surgery.
Helbig, 20, sustained a severe foot injury playing for Richmond’s VFL affiliate, Coburg at the start of the season, but has worked diligently throughout his rehabilitation in preparation for his return to the field.
“He’s done really well,” Richmond’s Elite Performance Manager told ‘Roar Vision’.
“It can be a nasty injury and they can take a bit of time to come back from. But he’s been training really well over the last month and he’ll continue to train fully with the group, with the ambition of playing next weekend, hopefully.”
Helbig, recruited from SANFL club West Adelaide, was Richmond’s third pick (No. 47 overall) in the 2010 AFL National Draft.
He played 10 games for Richmond in his 2011 debut AFL season and impressed with his toughness, aggression and long kicking.
Hornsby explained that the decision to cut short Vickery’s season, by sending him to surgery, means he will be ready to undertake a full pre-season of training.
“Ty had his left shoulder operated on. He’s been bothered by that since the start of the season,” he said.
“It’s been something he’s been trying to manage, and we’ve been managing as well.
“It got to a point where it was really impacting the work he could do in the gym.
“He was losing some of his strength and his mass and (he had) limited function game-day . . .
“So, our medical team thought it was best to have that operated on. "He also needs a bit of work done on his right shoulder, so we’ll get that done in a couple of weeks, which will enable him to have a full pre-season and really get that strength and size back on that we need.”
Meanwhile, another Tiger key-position prospect in David Astbury, is now making solid progress after dislocating his knee-cap during the 2011 season.
“Dave’s got a few games under his belt now. He has a bit of soreness a few weeks ago, but no problems now,” Hornsby said.
“He played the game fully on the weekend and has pulled up really well.
“We expect him to get increased game time next weekend as well.”
