How he recovers from a “little knock” to his calf could determine if Richmond superstar Dustin Martin gets to confront former coach Damien Hardwick in the season-opening clash with the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday.
Martin had scans on Tuesday after suffering a corked calf placing some doubt over whether the 32-year-old triple Norm Smith medallist would be ready for the reunion with Hardwick on the Gold Coast.
Richmond vice-captain Liam Baker revealed the scans came back “all clear” but Martin, who played his entire career under Hardwick before the triple-premiership coach quit last season, will be given until Thursday to prove his fitness.
“He copped a little knock but he went and had a scan and it’s come through all clear but it was literally an hour ago. So that’s all I really know,” vice-captain Baker said.
“But he should be right. But thank God the scan came back all right.
“He’s pretty tough. So he should be right.”
The Tigers are already without star forward Tom Lynch (foot), who is unlikely to return until after the Carlton clash while skipper and ruckman Toby Nankervis (plantar fasciitis) is in doubt for the season-opener.