Gordon’s gun recruit Cam Richardson appears to have shaken off an ankle injury and is expected to play in the Central Highlands Football League round one clash against Ballan on Saturday afternoon.
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Richardson, lured to the Eagles following a premiership with Bacchus Marsh last year, has been battling an issue sustained during an intra-club match earlier this month.
The injury has cost the versatile forward a couple of weeks of training and he didn’t play in last Saturday’s practice game against Ararat.
Eagles coach Gary Learmonth told The Courier that Richardson trained successfully on Tuesday night and has him in the side that will battle the Blues.
“He’s probably in a little bit of pain, but it’s more bruising than anything else,” Learmonth said.
“He’ll train on Thursday night, so if there’s any risk we wouldn’t play him.”
Learmonth admitted he was concerned when his star player came off the ground injured, but said Richardson had always felt it wasn’t a major issue.
Richardson has been arguably the biggest recruiting coup in the CHFL during the off-season, with the former North Melbourne footballer boosting an already powerful Gordon attack.
The 29-year-old, who played eight games for the Kangaroos, is set to be one of four new faces at Gordon to debut in the senior team this weekend.
Learmonth said Richardson is expected to be named in the senior team alongside 2017 recruits Tom Collins, Caleb Myers and Ryan Manning.
Former Gordon player Daniel James is back from overseas travel and is poised to make a return to the line-up in a game that is likely to see last season’s under-18 club best and fairest winner Matthew Spezza step out for his senior debut.
One of the Eagles’ major signings during the off-season Cobie Davis will miss the opening round match with a knee injury.
Learmonth is currently in his second campaign as coach of Gordon, which he took to a preliminary final in 2016.
The Eagles were beaten by eventual premiers Springbank on that occasion.
Following the clash with Ballan, Gordon has a round two encounter against Dunnstown before the Easter break.