Good News: Richmond Tigers young talented star is back...

Star key forward Lynch will make his highly-anticipated return when the Tigers face the Blues in the traditional Round 1 meeting, after nearly a year on the sidelines due to a foot injury.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, coach Adem Yze said the team was stoked to have him back.

“We’re just rapt that he’s smiling, he’s fit, and he’s ready to go and go perform, doing what he loves,” Yze said.

Superstar Martin, who missed last Saturday’s Opening Round with a corky, will add a huge boost to the Tigers’ midfield and forward line.

“He’ll get a bit of both. He’ll play forward, he’s had an interrupted couple of weeks, but we do like what he does at centre bounce,” Yze said.

“Having him and Shai (Bolton) with the flexibility of playing forward and midfield is a blessing for us.”

Ruckman Nankervis sat out of Richmond’s two pre-season clashes and the Opening Round due to a foot issue, but has recovered in time for the Thursday night game and will provide the side with plenty of on-field experience and leadership.

Rounding out the inclusions is tough forward Rhyan Mansell, 23, who has received the nod to return after he suffered a syndesmosis injury in the Tigers’ pre-season clash against Melbourne last month.

Out of the Opening Round side which fell to Gold Coast last Saturday is Jacob Koschitzke, Sam Naismith, Samson Ryan and Sam Banks, who have all been omitted.

Naismith and Banks have been named as emergencies, alongside Tom Brown.

A bumper crowd is expected for the Thursday night reunion between the two rivals and the Tigers’ first game at the ‘G in 2024, which kicks off at 7.30pm and will be broadcast live on Channel 7, Fox Footy and Kayo Sports.

After a game of momentum swings against Gold Coast last Saturday, and a similiar theme in the Blues’ Opening Round win over Brisbane, Yze said capitalising on momentum had been a focus of the Tigers’ Round 1 preparations.

“When we’ve got (the momentum), how to maintain it, and if we are struggling, how we can stem the flow,” he said.

“We can’t give up 11 goals in a row, that’s not good enough. But on the flipside, kicking seven in a row is a terrific way of gaining momentum and maintaining it.”

“I think the first 10 minutes are going to be pretty full on tomorrow night, which is a good thing. Our players are ready for that.”