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Tigers promote Polak

Polak back from the brink

03/15/2010 10:14:12 PM

Richmond utility Graham Polak has completed a remarkable recovery from a serious brain injury after the Tigers confirmed they would be promoting him to their senior list for 2010.

Polak suffered a life-threatening blow to his head when he collided with a tram in June 2008.

And although Richmond kept him on its senior list for the 2009 season, Polak's AFL career remained in serious jeopardy.

But the former Docker remarkably fought back against the odds to play the final two matches of the season last year.

He was then reacquired by Richmond in December's rookie draft as a mature-age selection, after earlier being delisted.

And as the Tigers have no players on their veterans list this season Polak, along with speedster Relton Roberts, has been promoted to the senior list.

"Graham has worked very hard to get to where he is today and he deserves his spot on the senior list," Richmond football manager Craig Cameron said.

"He has come a long way since the accident, and it's a credit to his dedication to the intensive rehabilitation program he went through."

Polak has played a total of 108 matches with the Dockers and Tigers in eight seasons.

The 25-year-old was originally drafted by Fremantle in 2001 at pick No.4 before switching to Richmond in 2007.

Meanwhile, Roberts gets his chance after being taken at pick No.38 in last year's rookie draft by Richmond from Katherine in the Northern Territory Football League.

"Relton will be a very exciting player for us," Cameron said.

"He adds a lot of pace and defensive pressure to our forward line."

The Tigers kick off their season against Carlton at the MCG on March 25.

 

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Comments
Posted by Big Frank at
16/03/2010 11:06 AM
Good to see Polak back. Hope he has a good year...
Posted by 40 Degrees S at
17/03/2010 10:55 AM
A feel-good story if ever there was one. As an ex-Melburnian, I would still like to know how a bloke runs into a tram (and I s'pose they [the trams, that is] now have to carry a compulsory sign 'Caution: running into trams may be injurious to your health').

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