Young Richmond midfielder Trent Cotchin will join veteran AFL teammate Matthew Richardson in visiting the operating theatre as he aims for a full pre-season.

Cotchin, 19, will have an operation as soon as possible after struggling lately with hip soreness.

Tigers football manager Ross Monaghan said the club is confident Cotchin will be ready for the start of summer training, most likely in late October.

Cotchin has massive talent, but Achilles tendon problems have interrupted his last two summers.

"He's been battling through for the last couple of weeks and we decided to fix the problem now," Monaghan said.

Meanwhile, the Tigers will also wait until Richardson has recovered from his knee surgery before offering him a new AFL contract.

Given Richardson's determination to keep playing, it only seems a matter of time for the oldest current player (at 34) to sign for 2010.

The Tigers could even offer a new contract with Richardson before they confirm their new coach, although this seems unlikely.

Caretaker coach Jade Rawlings and the club say there is no rush on signing Richardson, who was in hospital on Thursday for knee surgery.

That operation was brought forward from the post-season, after a hamstring injury on Saturday ended Richardson's playing year.

He was returning in the VFL from the hamstring tendon surgery that followed the round-six loss to Sydney.

"The club and Matthew will speak once he's recovered from his operation and try to finalise the process," Rawlings said.

"There's still uncertainty because of who the coach will be next year, it's a list management decision as well.

Richmond had a list management meeting on Wednesday, where Richardson's situation was discussed.

The club want to be sure Richardson is prepared to put himself through another pre-season before offering a new deal.

"We're quite positive how the meeting went," Rawlings said.

"Once he wants to confirm he wants to play next year, then progressions with the contract will go from there.

"Most Richmond people would like to see him go around."

Richmond onballer Ben Cousins is confident Richardson will have another season.

"There would be blood on the street (if Richardson was not re-signed) - he just keeps defying logic," Cousins said.

"I'm just looking forward to hopefully playing some footy with him."

In other Tigers news, key position player Graham Polak is a step closer to resuming his senior career.

Polak has not played in the AFL since he was hit by a tram midway through last season, suffering brain damage.

He has shown encouraging form in the VFL and has joined the extended senior squad for an opposition analysis meeting.

Polak is unlikely to return this weekend, but is now in the squad for Sunday's MCG match against Sydney.

"He's been a good story, I didn't know if he'd be able to get back, I thought he'd be unlikely, but he's been improving every week," Rawlings said.

"Everyone has been rapt with his progress, he wants to be treated like a senior footballer, which is our expectation.

"He is performing at a level now where he can be considered."

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