Talented Richmond key forward Ben Griffiths has his sights set on playing again this season following surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in the ring finger on his left hand.
Griffiths damaged the finger during the Tigers’ Round 17 clash with Fremantle at the MCG.
He admitted to being shocked when told by the Club’s doctor following the match of the severity of the injury.
Round 19: Richmond will hold an open training session at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday
“At the time it seemed pretty petty,” Griffiths said on this week’s edition of the Club’s official podcast ‘Talking Tigers.
“I finished the game with it and I didn’t really think about it too much at all.
“It wasn’t until the ‘doc’ told me how serious it could be that I had to get my head around it.
“But I’m still holding out hope (of a playing return this season) . . . I’m aiming for that.
“Once I get out of the cast in about six weeks I’m hoping I’ll be able to slide back in.
“I’m not allowed to run just yet, I’ve got to wait for the wounds to heal. But I’m hoping by this Saturday I’ll be able to start trotting around the track.
“And then, because I can still run, I’ll be fit.
“So it’s just a matter of waiting to get this thing off my hand, and how quickly I can get the strength back in the hand.”
While he spends time on the sidelines recovering from his finger injury, Griffiths is looking forward to taking on a new role at Tigerland.
“I’ve been in close contact with ‘Maxy’ Bailey (development coach), and I’ll help out the younger guys in the VFL, like ‘Beany’ (Liam McBean) and Reece McKenzie. I’ll do a bit of stuff with them on game-day as well,” Griffiths said.
