Richmond coach Adem Yze has clarified the selection status and current recovery stages of multiple recovering Tigers stars as the club heads to New South Wales in Round 12 to take on GWS.
The Tigers were without veteran key forward Tom Lynch last Friday night, while youngster Sam Lalor came from the field with a hamstring complaint during the Dreamtime contest.
Yze said he expects Lynch to return to the side after he missed the game against Essendon due to entering concussion protocols after a head knock against North Melbourne in Round 10.
"He's obviously going through the protocols, he's ticked every box up until today, and he'll get through training," Yze said.
"He'll be available to play if he gets through today. I think we'll put his magnet up if he's available."
Meanwhile, young guns Josh Smillie and Sam Lalor won't be rushed through their respective hamstring concerns, with the Tigers aiming for a conservative approach to reduce the risk of an injury reoccurring.
Smillie's return date has become clouded after a second setback from a hamstring injury suffered in the pre-season, leaving the top 10 pick waiting to get more experience under his belt before he contends for selection and an AFL debut.
Yze said despite the setbacks, Smillie's overall progress has been positive, and the timeline, that is yet to be announced, should be shorter than expected.
"I think later this afternoon we'll get that timeline, but he's travelling really well, he's running," the Tigers coach stated.
"He'll talk about that more than I will, but he's not that far away. It could be four to six weeks, but I think it will be closer to four, which is good.
"He's progressing nicely, but we just wanted to make sure that we set a really good plan for him... We want him to come back and really set himself for that back half of the year or back part of the year, so that's why it's TBC right now.
"It was (the same setback), it was minor though. Right now it's more around what things he's doing in the gym and things like that to really strengthen it before he gets going, and that's why it might be a little bit longer (before a timeline is announced)."
Lalor is also set to endure a tedious sideline stint for conservative reasons, despite the injured draftee already resuming running.
"We're never going to rush our younger players back, or anyone back. That's what we did with Dion (Prestia), and we set a really clear plan," Yze said.
"Sammy's is really minor, but it is an issue he had last year, it's the same spot he hurt last year in the under 18s.
"He's already running, but we've got a chance (because) we've got a bye in between. His timeline may look like five weeks, but he should only miss three games.
"We'll utilise the opportunity to get him fully fit for a strong back third of the season. There'll be no risk approach with Sammy."
Yze also mentioned that Noah Balta will be playing reserves against GWS this weekend, and will be catching his own flight back to Victoria to ensure he meets his curfew sanction following his court hearing in April.
The AFL side's clash is set to begin at 4:15 pm, making Balta's inclusion in the side too risky, however, the reserves game begins at 12:30 pm.
