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Jack Graham’s shoulder injury not “as bad as expected”

Good news Tigers fans!

Published by
Ben Cotton

Injured Tiger Jack Graham could yet take his place in Saturday's grand final.

The tough young gun dislocated his shoulder in Friday night's preliminary final win over Geelong, and later returned to play out the game hurt.

And Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin has revealed he remains a chance to play in the decider.

"[Graham is] much the same as the last couple of days, he seems in pretty good spirits," Cotchin told reporters on Monday.

"His shoulder probably isn't as bad as they expected, but it'll just be one of those ones they need to make sure he's fine to play on Saturday."

Richmond held over Jack Ross and Kamdyn McIntosh from the VFL grand final to prepare for the possibility of Graham or defender Nathan Broad (concussion) not getting up for this week.

However, Cotchin remained confident of Broad's chances.

"Broady's the same, he's up and about. He was really good even the day after the match," Cotchin said.

"I don't know what the exact protocol is, but I'm sure he has to tick off a couple of things."

Cotchin himself and Dustin Martin both copped their own knocks in the prelim, with Martin originally planned to to join his skipper for the presser.

"He's got more important things to do, like prepare for a game of footy. Nah, I don't even know where he is, he's shot off and got some lunch," Cotchin said with a grin.

"He's not complaining (about the knock), and he can piss and moan a bit, but no, 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.

"It was pretty sore, when it goes numb either side of where you get hit it's an odd feeling. I just take my hat off to 'Fridge' Graham, the way he played a role for our team with the significance of his injury was pretty impressive and makes mine seem like not much at all."

As Cotchin prepares for his second grand final, the veteran midfielder said maintaining the club's culture was more important to him than claiming a second premiership.

"If I'm completely honest, for me, it's not about holding the cup up for a second time and so forth, it's about creating a culture that will live beyond my time at the footy club and the other players who have been such a big part of that," Cotchin said.

"That's what makes me so proud of particularly this year, with so many guys that have grown. Shane Edwards was captain for a big chunk of the year, other guys developing right underneath him, that's what makes the football club and our environment so special.

"That's what I care about, more so than the achievement at the end."

Published by
Ben Cotton