GRAHAM Polak is back and Adam Thomson is in for his first game for Richmond.

They are part of five changes at the Tigers. Five always looks like a lot of changes for a football side but sometimes it really isn't.

Such is the case this week for Richmond as they look towards Saturday night's match with Hawthorn at the MCG.

Jake King and Tom Hislop will miss the game due to suspension and Joel Bowden has retired.

Mark Coughlan was a late replacement last week for Matthew White, who had hamstring soreness, so with White good to go again, the 2003 best-and-fairest is straight back out, while Ty Vickery has had a gruelling time in the ruck and the Tigers want to protect his young body.

The other two ins are Troy Simmonds and Kel Moore, who have both been good in the VFL.

Richmond football manager Ross Monaghan said Thompson, who was traded from Port Adelaide for pick 42 last year, was reaping the reward for good VFL form.

"It's just really good, consistent VFL form," he told richmondfc.com.au.

"He had a period where a few minor soft-tissue injuries and general illness got him for a bit and stopped him being at the top of his game.

"But the last few weeks with Coburg he's just shown us that he's ready to go, and we're really pleased that he's finally cracked it in the side."

Monaghan said Polak had been under consideration for the last couple of weeks.

"Polly was right in the picture a couple of weeks ago, then he missed last week with a rolled ankle but he's recovered pretty well.

"His form up until then was good, so he's got his opportunity, which is great."

Youngster Vickery is being looked after by the Tigers at the end of a long and gruelling first season.

"Ty's out of the side – he's only a young kid who's been playing in the ruck, and we're just trying to manage him as a young footballer," Monaghan said..

"He's showing a few signs of wear and tear generally – no great alarm bells, or anything like that, and Simmo's been in good form, so it's a straight swap, Troy Simmonds for Ty."

RICHMOND'S team to play Hawthorn

Richmond
B: Kel Moore, Will Thursfield, Dean Polo
HB: Alex Rance, Luke McGuane, Chris Newman
C: Shane Edwards, Brett Deledio, Jordan McMahon
HF: Nathan Brown, Jack Riewoldt, Richard Tambling
F: Matthew White, Mitch Morton, Ben Cousins
Foll: Troy Simmonds, Daniel Jackson, Shane Tuck
I/C: Graham Polak, Adam Thomson, Robin Nahas, Angus Graham
Emg: Jarrod Silvester, Mark Coughlan, Jayden Post

In: Thomson, Simmonds, Moore, White, Polak
Out: Jake King (suspended), Tom Hislop (suspended), Joel Bowden (retired), Ty Vickery, Mark Coughlan
  
New: Adam Thomson (Port Adelaide)