Richmond defender Graham Polak has asked for water and taken his first assisted steps as he continues his remarkable recovery from brain injuries suffered when he was hit by a tram on Saturday.

Polak has walked to the shower and spoken briefly from his general ward bed after being transferred from intensive care at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital.

The 24-year-old awoke from an induced coma on Monday after suffering brain bruising when he was hit by the tram while crossing Dandenong Road in the Melbourne suburb of Armadale.

Richmond Football Club spokeswoman Judith Donnelly said Polak was showing improvement and had asked for water and was helped to the shower.

"He has walked a few steps and has said a couple of words," Ms Donnelly said.

"He is still quite confused but he knows he is in hospital and he knows what year it is.

"He is very tired and is expected to spend most of the day sleeping."

Ms Donnelly said further scans would be undertaken in the next few days but test results may not be available for several days.

The club is elated about the defender's recovery from the medically induced coma as every update continues to be "more promising than the last," Ms Donnelly told AAP.

Polak was initially put into the coma by doctors because of concerns about bruising to his brain.

But Ms Donnelly said "it's going to be weeks" before conclusions could be reached about the impact of Polak's accident.

A hospital spokeswoman said Polak, who was moved from intensive care to a general ward on Monday night, was in a satisfactory condition.

On Monday, the Alfred's trauma director Mark Fitzgerald said Polak was expected to recover over the next few weeks but that it would take "some time" before a good outcome could be absolutely assured.

Polak was crossing Dandenong Road to catch a taxi with teammates Cleve Hughes and Jordan McMahon when he was hit.

They had attended a club function having played in the Tigers' defeat by Carlton at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP