Richmond defender Noah Balta is set to be available for selection for the Club’s season opener against Carlton next Thursday night.
The 194cm key back has overcome a minor hamstring injury in time to face the Blues, barring any hiccups on the training track this week.
“We anticipate Noah will train fully across the next week and put his hand up for selection,” Richmond High Performance Manager Ben Serpell said.
Midfielder Dion Prestia will also train fully ahead of the season opener, though the Club may lean on the side of caution with the veteran.
“Dion as well could be in the mix for Thursday night as he is really close to returning to match play,” Serpell said.
“Last year we were conservative with his return (VFL minutes after an Achilles injury), and it worked with him playing 12 consecutive (AFL) games, so we may look to do similar again.”
Nick Vlastuin has also been listed as a test, with the Club confident he has overcome the ankle injury that curtailed his off-season.
“Nick has got his ankle in a really good spot, and we are really pleased with where that sits,” Serpell said.
“We will still assess how his body is feeling for Thursday night, given the training he has missed and some of the soreness he has had. So, he remains a test for Carlton, but we are pleased with where he is at.”
The Club can also confirm that Josh Smillie is unfortunately set for a further period on the sidelines after suffering a new quad injury.
“Josh, unfortunately, suffered a quad strain at one of our recent rehab sessions, which will delay his return to play,” Serpell said.
“To be clear, it is not a re-injury of the injury which required surgery, and the young man himself is as disappointed as everyone else at the Club is for him, given the work he has put in.
“We are on the right path with Josh. However, we also want to be conservative and anticipate that this will unfortunately extend his rehab by 4-8 weeks.
“We will have a clearer picture on this in the coming weeks.”
Ruckman Ollie Hayes-Brown is a test to return to availability after missing the weekend's VFL practice match, while Samson Ryan is expected to be back playing in Round 3 or 4.
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| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
30. Tom Brown |
Forearm |
Test
Brown suffered a broken arm in the Round 9 game against Adelaide. Read Article |
|
25. Toby Nankervis |
Hamstring |
Test
Nankervis injured his hamstring in the Round 2 game against Gold Coast. Read Article |
|
26. Zane Peucker |
Syndesmosis |
Test
Peucker injured his syndesmosis in a VFL practice match on April 18. Read Article |
|
10. Taj Hotton |
Hip |
Test
Hotton suffered a bone stress in his hip after the February 20 practice match against Essendon. Read Article |
|
28. Kane McAuliffe |
Achilles |
Round 14-18
McAuliffe was quite sore in both Achilles in the Round 9 game against Adelaide. Read Article |
|
34. Harry Armstrong |
Foot |
Round 15-18
Harry Armstrong suffered a bone stress in his foot during the Round 3 match with Fremantle. Read Article |
|
23. Judson Clarke |
ACL |
Round 15-18
Clarke ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the Round 11 VFL game against Sydney last year. Read Article |
|
4. Sam Lalor |
Achilles |
Round 16-18
Lalor suffered a partial tear to his Achilles during a training session in the lead-up to Round 8. Read Article |
|
7. Rhyan Mansell |
Foot |
Round 16-18
Mansell presented foot soreness to the Club in March and will undergo surgery to treat bone stress. Read Article |
|
50. Campbell Gray |
Hamstring |
Round 19-23
Gray suffered a high-grade hamstring strain in Round 10. Read Article |
|
19. Tom Lynch |
Throat |
TBC
Lynch sustained a larynx fracture in Round 11. Read Article |
|
38. Tom Sims |
MCL |
TBC
Sims sustained an MCL injury in the Round 9 VFL game. Read Article |
|
8. Jonty Faull |
Concussion |
TBC
Faull suffered a concussion in Round 11. Read Article |
|
5. Jack Ross |
Concussion |
TBC
Ross presented with concussion symptoms after the Round 12 AFL game. Read Article |
|
32. Samson Ryan |
Concussion |
TBC
Ryan presented with concussion symptoms after the Round 10 VFL game. Read Article |
|
16. Josh Smillie |
Quad |
TBC
Smillie sustained a small re-tear of the injury he acquired in February. Read Article |
|
18. Josh Gibcus |
Knee |
Season
Gibcus sustained an ACL sprain in the VFL Round 5 game. Read Article |
30. Tom Brown
Brown suffered a broken arm in the Round 9 game against Adelaide.
Read Article
25. Toby Nankervis
Nankervis injured his hamstring in the Round 2 game against Gold Coast.
Read Article
26. Zane Peucker
Peucker injured his syndesmosis in a VFL practice match on April 18.
Read Article
10. Taj Hotton
Hotton suffered a bone stress in his hip after the February 20 practice match against Essendon.
Read Article
28. Kane McAuliffe
McAuliffe was quite sore in both Achilles in the Round 9 game against Adelaide.
Read Article
34. Harry Armstrong
Harry Armstrong suffered a bone stress in his foot during the Round 3 match with Fremantle.
Read Article
23. Judson Clarke
Clarke ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the Round 11 VFL game against Sydney last year.
Read Article
4. Sam Lalor
Lalor suffered a partial tear to his Achilles during a training session in the lead-up to Round 8.
Read Article
7. Rhyan Mansell
Mansell presented foot soreness to the Club in March and will undergo surgery to treat bone stress.
Read Article
50. Campbell Gray
Gray suffered a high-grade hamstring strain in Round 10.
Read Article
19. Tom Lynch
Lynch sustained a larynx fracture in Round 11.
Read Article
38. Tom Sims
Sims sustained an MCL injury in the Round 9 VFL game.
Read Article
8. Jonty Faull
Faull suffered a concussion in Round 11.
Read Article
5. Jack Ross
Ross presented with concussion symptoms after the Round 12 AFL game.
Read Article
32. Samson Ryan
Ryan presented with concussion symptoms after the Round 10 VFL game.
Read Article
16. Josh Smillie
Smillie sustained a small re-tear of the injury he acquired in February.
Read Article
18. Josh Gibcus
Gibcus sustained an ACL sprain in the VFL Round 5 game.
Read ArticleLast Updated:
