Good news, and the Martin piece at the bottom of the article - two critical parts of the team that we need to be performing well if we want to go deep next year.
A slew of Hawthorn past players have backed Peter Nankivell in the club’s hotly contested election. Meanwhile, Tigers co-captain Dylan Grimes is progressing well in his return from hamstring surgery.
www.theage.com.au
Grimes on track for full pre-season
Jon Pierik
Richmond co-captain Dylan Grimes has impressed club medical staff in his recovery from surgery and is ready to complete a full pre-season.
Grimes, 31,
required hamstring surgery in August after he was hurt in the round-20 clash against Brisbane at the MCG. He missed the final three home-and-away games and what was the season-ending loss to the Lions in an elimination final at the Gabba.
The veteran defender has a history of hamstring issues, so understood what awaited in his recovery.
Tigers co-captain Dylan Grimes is expecting to complete a full pre-season, having had hamstring surgery late in the 2022 campaign.CREDIT:AFL PHOTOS
Tigers officials say he has been running and recovering well and will join in full training when the senior group officially resumes later this month.
Grimes remains a key part of the Tigers’ premiership plans, and his composure was missed late in the season.
Ahead of his 200th game in June,
Grimes opened up about his hamstring battles, revealing he had been on the verge of retirement before his second hamstring tendon surgery a decade ago.
Between 2011-13, Grimes managed to play just 25 of a possible 67 senior games because of hamstring issues, and was sent to Germany to spend time with German doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt for expert treatment.
As Grimes ramps up his preparation, Dustin Martin has been seen running laps at Punt Road, with the Tigers hoping the star midfielder can reclaim his place at the top of the league’s pecking order.
Martin managed only nine games through injury and a leave of absence to deal with the death of his father. He averaged less than 19 touches per game.
He returned for the elimination final, having not played since round 16, but the decision to select him was criticised after coach Damien Hardwick declared before the game that the triple Norm Smith medallist was only “80 per cent fit”. He had only 15 possessions and a goal in the two-point loss to the Lions.
The Tigers expect to remain in premiership mode this season,
having acquired midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper through the trade period. Their first-to-fourth year players begin official training on Monday.