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Nick Daicos in massive update amid Tom Lynch boost for Dustin Martin's 300th AFL game

Collingwood and Richmond have both received some welcome news.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read

Nick Daicos has overcome a corked shin and will play for Collingwood against North Melbourne, while the return of Tom Lunch will provide a boost for Richmond in Dustin Martin's 300th AFL game. Daicos was forced off the field on Monday against Melbourne and didn't come back, sparking concerns he could be added to the Magpies' massive injury list.

But coach Craig McRae revealed on Friday that he's good to go for Sunday's game against the Kangaroos. Daicos has had a light week of training, but passed a fitness test on Friday and ran at full pace while taking part in football drills with his teammates.

Nick Daicos, Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch.
Nick Daicos will play for Collingwood, while Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch are back for Richmond. Image: Getty

He has been given the green light to take on the Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. "He's good to go. He'll play," McRae said. "We played Monday, so we didn't do anything on Wednesday with him. Today was an opportunity to get out and move. He went really well and he'll be right to play."

McRae said Oleg Markov is in doubt because of a jarred back, with lightning-quick defender Tew Jiath on stand-by. Jiath is the younger brother of Hawthorn player Changkuoth Jiath, and is a chance to debut after being named among the Magpies' emergencies.

The 19-year-old was selected with the 37th overall pick in last year's draft. "I just love the way that he expresses himself on the footy field," McRae said. "He goes for his marks, much like his brother from Hawthorn, and he's a serious talent. He's going to be a really nice player for us."

Nick Daicos during Collingwood's win over Melbourne.
Nick Daicos copped a knock to the lower leg in Collingwood's win over Melbourne. Image: Getty

McRae will go up against Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson for the first time since they worked together at Hawthorn in 2021. "I don't think any game's an easy win. We respect our opposition enormously," McRae said of the last-placed Roos.

"I worked with Clarko for 12 months and he's an incredible coach. I know what sort of fire he has in the belly for these sorts of games and I'm sure they'll take a lot of things away from us - as we'll try to do to them."

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Meanwhile, Richmond spearhead Tom Lynch is set to make his long-awaited return from a hamstring tendon injury on Saturday - just in time for Martin's 300th game. Lynch missed most of last season with a foot injury, and hasn't played since undergoing hamstring surgery after Richmond's win over Sydney in Round 3.

Tigers coach Adem Yze backed the two-time premiership forward to play in Saturday's clash with Hawthorn at the MCG after he got through Thursday's training session. Martin will also return after being rested for last week's win over the Crows in Adelaide.

Tom Lynch.
Tom Lynch during a Richmond training session. Image: Getty

"He's done a great block of work," Yze said of Martin. "He was putting his hand up to play last week, so we held that back and he's ready to go. He's pushed to play because he's ready. He was ready last week, so we wouldn't push him any earlier. We've got a bye coming up after this game, so if there was any risk around playing Tom Lynch, we wouldn't do that."

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell predicted Martin and Richmond to be buoyed by Lynch's return. "Probably half their side are premiership teammates of Dusty so it's going to be a big challenge for us," Mitchell said.

"There's the two hours of the actual game and there's the event that goes on around it, which we've got no control over. The only thing that we're focused on is making sure that we play the game in the manner that we need to to get the win."

with AAP