When Richmond take on GWS in Saturday’s grand final, it will be the club’s second decider in two weeks – but it could well be a bittersweet occasion for two fringe Tigers.
The Tigers won the VFL grand final on Sunday, but midfielder Jack Ross and winger Kamdyn McIntosh were withdrawn from their team pre-game, held over as injury cover for Jack Graham (dislocated shoulder) and Nathan Broad (concussion).
But while VFL best-afield Marlion Pickett in particular got the chance to push his case for a second grand final in as many weeks, Ross and McIntosh were onlookers on Sunday.
If Broad and Graham are cleared to play – or Pickett or another teammate is selected ahead of them – it could potentially see Ross and McIntosh miss out on playing in either grand final.
It would loom as a particularly tough break for premiership player McIntosh, who last played AFL football in round 17 – and looks less likely to feature at AFL level than young midfielder Ross, who shapes as a like-for-like replacement for Graham.
“There’s not much you can really say, is there?” Richmond defender Brandon Ellis told AAP on Monday.
“We found out obviously yesterday that those two got pulled out of the VFL, just because we need them this week in case ‘Broady’ and Jack Graham don’t get up.
“My heart sunk for them, I was gutted.
“But it just makes me even more grateful for the position I’m in, to know that I’ll be running out there on Saturday and those boys, there’s just so much unknown – I sort of feel sick and can’t imagine what they’re feeling.
“But credit to them, they’ve been fantastic and they’ve been getting around us and it just shows the characters they are and the culture that we’ve built at this club.”
Teammate Jason Castagna was also sympathetic towards the pair, but praised their attitudes in a difficult situation.
“It’s a tough one because they would hate to miss both grand finals but I know that when they got called up and said that they’re going to need to sit out because there’s a chance of them playing, they were both rapt to do what they could for the team,” Castagna told AAP.
“And they’re both great team players like that so I think regardless, if they play or if they don’t, they’ll be happy for the team and they’re always doing whatever they can to help us out.”