Talented Richmond defender Dylan Grimes made a successful return to the playing field on Sunday, three months after his last competitive match.

The 22-year-old played half a game with Coburg’s development team on Sunday, the first step in a carefully-planned comeback to AFL ranks following a foot injury.

He collected 14 disposals and took seven marks in two quarters, in an encouraging display.

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“It was good to have Dylan out there.  He got through half a game of footy, which was part of his training plan,” said Richmond’s Elite Performance Manager, Peter Burge.

“This week he’ll progress into the VFL ‘ones’, with quite a bit more game time.

“Then, hopefully, he’ll put himself in a position for AFL selection, providing he pulls up well.

“We’ll just do the right thing by Dylan and his career.”

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Grimes played five games straight from Round 2-6 this season, and was starting to find consistency with his performance before injury again hit.

It was the latest setback in an injury-interrupted career to date.  But with the injury now behind him, he has earmarked Richmond’s Round 20 match against Brisbane as a possible return to senior football.

"I'd love to be able to play a part in the Richmond journey towards the latter part of this season, but it's very much governed by the coaches' thinking," Grimes said.   

"The positive, sitting on the sidelines, was seeing the success we were having and knowing there was a possibility I could come back towards the latter part of the season.

"That kept me going and it's been great to see the development from the stands.

"I'm really hoping to be involved in some of that development in the last few games."