Richmond's Pick 7 selection Josh Smillie has been placed on an alternative training program this pre-season after suffering a minor hamstring strain during match simulation last week.

The Tigers will take a conservative approach with the teenager, who is hopeful of returning in time for the club's upcoming trial matches.

Already undergoing a modified program, Smillie will be utilised away from the main group for the time being.

โ€œJosh has come to the Club and had a sporadic load over the last little while, which is typical of most first years,โ€ Richmond high performance boss Ben Serpell said in a club update.

โ€œBecause of that (and his minor hamstring issue) we have decided to take a conservative approach with him and give him some consistent training.

โ€œWe still expect him to be around the mark for the early parts of the season, hopefully by trial (game) time.โ€

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 20: Josh Smillie of the Tigers poses for a photograph during the 2024 AFL Draft at Marvel Stadium on November 20, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Fellow Richmond draftee Jasper Alger hurt his knee during last Friday's session but is still in consideration for the club's pair of pre-season games against West Coast and Collingwood next month.

Serpell said Alger has avoided a serious hyper-extension of his knee and will return to training as early as this week.

โ€œJasper hyper-extended his knee in match play last week. He got a little bit spooked, but the scans came back positively,โ€ Serpell said.

โ€œHe will train a little bit later this week and there is a chance he will get out for match play (on Friday).

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โ€œBut if not this week, it is going to be next week (that he returns to partaking in match play).โ€

The club has also detailed that young defender Josh Gibcus won't feature in the early stages of the coming season as he eyes a return from an ACL injury sustained during Round 1 last year.

The Tigers are continuing to take a conservative approach with their key backman as they view him as a long-term prospect.

Young forward Judson Clarke, who is also rehabbing from an ACL injury sustained last year, could be back by April.