RICHMOND’S Jack Graham hasn’t given up hope of playing in the AFL grand final with skipper Trent Cotchin revealing the premiership on-baller’s dislocated shoulder isn’t as bad as first thought.
Graham and Nathan Broad, who was concussed in the preliminary final win over Geelong, are the two main injury concerns for the Tigers for Saturday’s premiership decider against GWS.
Graham dislocated his right shoulder in the first quarter of Friday night’s clash with the Cats at the MCG but was able to play out the match with the joint heavily strapped.
“He’s in pretty good spirits,” Cotchin said of Graham at Punt Road Oval on Monday.
“His shoulder probably isn’t as bad as they expected, but it will be just one of those ones that they need to make sure about.”
Broad copped dual blows – a heavy knock from a teammate’s hip, then a knee to the head by an opponent – in the same third-quarter incident that ended his night.
“Broady’s the same (as Graham), he’s up and about,” Cotchin said.
“He was really good even the day after the match.
“I don’t know what the exact protocol is.
“I’m sure he has to tick off a couple of things, but he should be ok.”
Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh loom as the likely replacements if needed after they were held out of the Richmond team that won the VFL grand final.
Cotchin was fortunate to escape serious injury himself when he clashed legs with Geelong skipper Joel Selwood.
Dustin Martin, who was slated to appear alongside Cotchin at Monday’s press conference but was a late scratching, also appeared to be carrying a corked leg muscle against the Cats.
“He’s got more important things to do,” Cotchin joked about Martin’s no show.
“He’s not complaining (about the knock), and he can moan a bit, but I think he’s pretty good.
“Much like me, probably carrying on a bit too much. We’ll both be fine … three training sessions this week and we’ll be right to play on Saturday.”
Notoriously media-averse at the best of times, Martin’s absence was explained as little more than cold feet ahead of Monday’s packed press conference.
© AAP 2019
