The Round 9 Richmond Team

B:  Morris, Rance, Chaplin

HB:  Newman, Ellis, Houli

C:  Grigg, Cotchin, Jackson

HF:  Deledio, S. Edwards, King

F:  Vickery, Riewoldt, Martin

R:  Maric, Foley, Vlastuin

IC:  White, Batchelor, McGuane, Lonergan

Emerg:  A. Edwards, Nahas, Dea

Tough, inside midfielder, Sam Lonergan, will make his Richmond debut in Saturday night’s Dreamtime at the ‘G blockbuster against his former club Essendon.

Lonergan, who played 79 games for the Bombers from 2006, until being delisted by them at the end of last season, has been included in the Tigers’ line-up, along with key ruckman, Ivan Maric, and valuable veteran, Chris Newman.

Maric and Newman have both recovered from the minor injuries that kept them out of last Saturday’s 34-point victory over Melbourne.

They replace Orren Stephenson, Matt Dea and Robin Nahas, who have all been omitted.

Lonergan, who was Richmond’s second selection in last December’s AFL rookie draft, had an interrupted start to the 2013 season because of a hamstring injury.  But he has made solid progress at VFL level with Coburg over the past few weeks, culminating in him picking up 20 disposals, including 11 clearances, last weekend. 

The three Tiger emergencies for the Round 9 clash with Essendon are Dea, Nahas and Aaron Edwards.