RICHMOND says it is too early to tell if Chris Yarran will play for the club this season as the recruit continues to work through a full-time rehab program.
Yarran has been back at the Tigers since late June after taking a month away from the club to treat his mental health issues.
After undergoing foot surgery in late March, he is now in rehab with the rest of the club's injured players and looked focused running laps at Thursday's main session.
The club does not have a return date for the half-back and is not pushing him, but the 25-year-old is said to be keen to play at some level before the end of the season.
He has recovered well from the issues that saw him granted leave from the club, according to the management around him.
"He's going OK. He's going through his rehab phase, as we know he was coming back from his foot [injury]," coach Damien Hardwick said on Thursday.
"He'll just keep working through that. He's missed a significant amount of training and when he's right to play, he's right to play.
"When that is we're not too sure at this stage. We're just here to support and continue that support with him."
Asked what Yarran’s chances of playing this year were, Hardwick said: "We've got seven rounds, so it's probably too early to call at this stage".
Yarran was traded by Carlton at the end of last season for pick No.19 but has endured a tough run with injuries since joining his new club.
He suffered a calf injury in the pre-season, followed by surgery to his left foot.
He took a period of indefinite leave in late May after spending a week in his home state of Western Australia for personal reasons.
Hardwick again stressed on Thursday that Yarran was an important part of the club's future.
"He's a great player and we look forward to getting him back," the coach said.
Meanwhile, the Tigers appear in no rush to confirm senior list contracts for rookies Jason Castagna and Jayden Short, who look certain to be elevated at the end of the season.
Short, 20, has played nine games this season and averaged 16 possessions across the past four weeks since being recalled to the team in a half-back role.
Castagna, meanwhile, has played three games but is highly-rated and was among the team's best in its 10-point loss to the Western Bulldogs last Saturday.
The second-year pair, who came through the Northern Knights under-18s, are best mates and are both managed by former Tiger Will Thursfield.
It is understood the Tigers will wait to see more senior-level football from both before confirming senior-list contracts.
Hardwick said the club was focused on giving its young players – including forward Liam McBean – an extended run to allow them to settle at the highest level.
"We'd like to give those guys three to four weeks to get to the level," the coach said.
"We're looking forward to seeing those guys over the next couple of weeks."
The coach said winning games would remain a priority in the last seven rounds, but the club was also focused on creating a "springboard into 2017".
Ben Lennon and Adam Marcon are pushing for selection for Saturday's clash against Essendon at the MCG, while midfielder Nathan Drummond is a couple of weeks away from AFL selection as he builds form in the VFL after 12 months sidelined with a knee injury.
Hardwick said Shaun Grigg was available after missing last week's loss to the Bulldogs with a minor knee injury.
