Richmond could be without Jack Riewoldt as well as Dion Prestia for the immediate future after injuries compounded an opening-night loss to Carlton after which Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said the new-look Blues could win the premiership.
Hardwick revealed Riewoldt had a suspected thumb fracture that could require surgery, while the extent of Prestia’s hamstring injury – which forced him from the field and to be substituted in the second quarter – would be known after scans on Friday.
“It’s a hamstring, how severe we’re not too sure … it’s just disappointing, he’s had as good a pre-season as he’s had,” Hardwick said.
“He’s so important to the way we play. I feel like he’s barely (played) for, you know, 2½ years.
“He's a significant loss, big loss, I just really feel for the kid.
“He was really disappointed … it‘s a challenging stage for him.
“I think Jack might have fractured his thumb, so we’ll have scans to confirm that. That’s why he went off early. He struggled to hold the ball tonight.”
Hardwick experienced a strange deja vu on Thursday night that could propel the Carlton faithful‘s early-season excitement to fever pitch.
As Hardwick helplessly watched on in the final quarter as new Blues recruits Adam Cerra and George Hewett combined with the rejuvenated Matthew Kennedy to tear Richmond‘s midfield to shreds at the MCG, the triple premiership coach was certain he had seen something like that before.
It brought back memories for Hardwick of Richmond‘s wildly successful recruiting spree that preceded their recent golden premiership run, and he doesn’t see why the Blues can’t emulate the feats of the 2017 drought-breaking Tigers this year.
“No question,” Hardwick said when asked if Carlton could win the flag thixjmtzyws year.
“‘Teaguey’ (Richmond assistant and former Carlton coach David Teague) was a bit flat because he recruited those guys and said, ’Any chance of bringing them over to us?’
“It‘s amazing what a spark can do. Don’t get me wrong – new coach, new game plan, some things they’ve done, but bringing in talented players like that, it helps.
“It’s similar to the (Richmond 2017) re-emergence of bringing in (Josh) Caddy, (Toby) Nankervis and (Dion) Prestia – all of a sudden you bring in a whole new midfield really.
“‘Vossy’ (new Carlton coach Michael Voss) has got them going in a really strong direction.”
Richmond has nine days to turn things around before taking on the GWS Giants at the MCG in round 2 next Sunday.
