Richmond is bullish about the prospects of some senior players working their way back from long-term injuries.
Chris Knights and Reece Conca have made successful returns through the VFL in the past few weeks, as they aim to make an impact at AFL level in the back-end of the season.
Knights has played a part in the last three VFL matches, albeit with managed game time, but he collected 28 disposals in his most encouraging performance to date, in last Sunday’s win over Port Melbourne.
“It’s not always about possessions for the guys playing VFL. It’s about how they play their footy,” said VFL coach Tim Clarke.
“It’s about how they’re running around the footy and how they look – are they ready for AFL football.
“I think Chris has proved over the last couple of weeks he’s getting to the stage where the coaches can look at him and say I think he’ll be able to handle AFL football.
“I’m really excited about that, and over the next couple of weeks, as long as he can keep putting together good, solid performances, I think he’ll be putting the pressure on the guys playing upstairs.”
Conca has missed most of the 2015 season so far with recurring hamstring injuries, but made an encouraging return against Port Melbourne.
He played the first half, winning 15 disposals and impressing with his movement on the off the ball.
“Reece, it’s the best I’ve seen him move when he’s played VFL footy, in the time I’ve been here,” Clarke said.
“He really worked hard to contests, and he got involved in contests. He’s got to clean up a couple of things in his game in the next week or two before he transitions into the AFL team.
“It was really exciting to see Reece come back the way he did.”
The match against Port Melbourne also saw the return of exciting rookie Jason Castagna, who has been on the sidelines recently with an ankle injury.
The 18-year-old played half of the game, and finished with 15 disposals and four inside 50s.
“Jason came back after half time and he looked like he hadn’t missed a beat,” Clarke said.
“He played through half back, and through the midfield, and was outstanding.”
