RICHMOND star Jack Riewoldt is likely to return for Friday afternoon’s practice match against Essendon, according to teammate Brett Deledio.
Riewoldt missed the final NAB Challenge match against Collingwood with a quad complaint but Deledio said the 25-year-old goalkicker had trained hard over the summer and was back to his vibrant self.
After missing selection in the club's leadership group for 2014, Riewoldt placed a media ban on himself.
However, Deledio said the Coleman medallist of 2010 and 2012 was ready to go.
"It would have been a tough day for him [today] with the media ban, with all these guys here," Deledio joked to AFL.com.au at the annual AFL captains’ day in Adelaide.
"Jack is his vibrant self. He plays his first game this Friday and hopefully he'll kick a couple and get himself right for season proper."
Riewoldt kicked 58 goals last season, his lowest tally since 2009, but he was equal leader for assists at Tigerland as the club attempted to develop his role and find more options in attack.
"I'm looking forward to the big fella having a good year because he has trained hard over the off-season," Deledio said.
Deledio was effusive about Dustin Martin, who had a tumultuous end to last season when he flirted with the idea of leaving the Tigers.
Martin, 22, had just finished runner-up in the club best and fairest and polled 16 votes in the Brownlow medal, when he began exploring trade options.
Deledio, however, thinks the sky is the limit for Martin.
"He could do anything. He has got so much talent, so much ability and he is learning how to train hard and make the most of it at the moment. He has got a lot of upside, which is great for us," he said.
Deledio helps lead a team that has had its ability to close out games questioned in the off-season, after the second term fade-out in the losing final against Carlton.
In a final that was played at an uncharacteristically hectic pace, the Tigers were unable to protect a 26-point half-time lead.
Deledio admitted Richmond’s leaders had done plenty of soul searching over the summer on that issue.
"It's a hard one to answer. Myself and Trent (Cotchin) and all the other leaders have questioned ourselves on what we could have done on that day and in those trying moments in the third and last quarter," Deledio said.
"We are better for the run so our biggest challenge is to get back there and have another go at it.
"Most of it is about playing your own role and doing the right thing yourself and once you are doing that, you can get along and help other people do their stuff. That is the main thing," Deledio said.
