Dimma calls for extended bench to protect stars – AFL

RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has called on the interchange bench to be extended as the AFL prepares for its fixture cram.
A depleted Tigers line-up will face Sydney at the Gabba on Sunday without premiership stars Trent Cotchin (hamstring), Dion Prestia (ankle), Toby Nankervis (ankle) and Bachar Houli and Shane Edwards, with the latter two remaining in Melbourne away from the club’s Gold Coast hub for family reasons.
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While gun forward Tom Lynch is looking likely to play despite hand surgery this week, the two-time premiership coach said the AFL needed to consider expanding the bench to protect the game’s stars from being overloaded.
The Tigers coach said it was an opportunity for young players who had missed on selection to get some experience whilst also preventing the big names from burnout.
“The one thing I probably would like to see is an extended bench so we can get some games into those

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