TonyK
CibbuanoFoley set to return
August 19th 2008 06:14
RICHMOND looks set to regain Nathan Foley but classy forward Nathan Brown remains in doubt for Saturday's must-win match against Fremantle at the MCG.
The Tigers need to win their last two matches against the Dockers and Melbourne and rely on other results going their way if they are going to feature in September action.
Foley missed the 29-point win against the Hawks last Sunday with a rib injury sustained against Adelaide in round 19 while Brown missed his second game in the past three matches due to a combination of leg and hip injuries.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said Foley was more likely to return this week than Brown.
"They are both still in calculations, Nathan has done a little bit more today in our skills session from a running point of view than Browny did," Wallace said.
"It's only early in the week and we will give both those boys an opportunity to come up later in the week but Nathan Foley is ahead of Nathan Brown at the minute."
Wallace said Brown's latest injury problems were not related to the lingering problems he suffered from the severe broken leg he sustained in 2005.
"Browny has had two or three on-going problems over three or four weeks," he said.
"One is from a knock to the leg and the other is from a knock to the hip - they were both collision injuries - but fortunately the leg knock is to his other leg, his good leg."
Wallace said his young side had gained plenty of self-belief from their shock win over the Hawks.
"It was pretty important from a self-belief point of view for our guys to know they can compete with sides that have been right up there," he said.
"As much as I can sit here and say I believe in our younger players, for them to see it for themselves is important and it helps sell the message to ourselves that we have been trying to portray all along."
The Tigers will be strong favourites in their last two matches but Wallace said his side shouldn't underestimate bottom four clubs Fremantle and Melbourne.
"When you are in a situation lower down the ladder, and we were there last year and knocked off a couple of sides, you have got that 'nothing to lose' attitude and you can go out and play with a bit of freedom," Wallace said.
"And you don't tighten up because there is nothing to tighten up over."
The Tigers need to win their last two matches against the Dockers and Melbourne and rely on other results going their way if they are going to feature in September action.
Foley missed the 29-point win against the Hawks last Sunday with a rib injury sustained against Adelaide in round 19 while Brown missed his second game in the past three matches due to a combination of leg and hip injuries.
Richmond coach Terry Wallace said Foley was more likely to return this week than Brown.
"They are both still in calculations, Nathan has done a little bit more today in our skills session from a running point of view than Browny did," Wallace said.
"It's only early in the week and we will give both those boys an opportunity to come up later in the week but Nathan Foley is ahead of Nathan Brown at the minute."
Wallace said Brown's latest injury problems were not related to the lingering problems he suffered from the severe broken leg he sustained in 2005.
"Browny has had two or three on-going problems over three or four weeks," he said.
"One is from a knock to the leg and the other is from a knock to the hip - they were both collision injuries - but fortunately the leg knock is to his other leg, his good leg."
Wallace said his young side had gained plenty of self-belief from their shock win over the Hawks.
"It was pretty important from a self-belief point of view for our guys to know they can compete with sides that have been right up there," he said.
"As much as I can sit here and say I believe in our younger players, for them to see it for themselves is important and it helps sell the message to ourselves that we have been trying to portray all along."
The Tigers will be strong favourites in their last two matches but Wallace said his side shouldn't underestimate bottom four clubs Fremantle and Melbourne.
"When you are in a situation lower down the ladder, and we were there last year and knocked off a couple of sides, you have got that 'nothing to lose' attitude and you can go out and play with a bit of freedom," Wallace said.
"And you don't tighten up because there is nothing to tighten up over."
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