Richmond coach Damien Hardwick says injury-prone backman Dylan Grimes remains a certain AFL selection when fully fit despite the excellent form of the Tiger defence.

The versatile tall defender, a member of Richmond’s leadership group, is in his fourth season but has managed just 22 AFL games.

His past two seasons have been ruined by severe hamstring injuries, while this year a foot injury has kept him out since round six.

But after returning through the VFL reserves, then the VFL over the past fortnight, Hardwick says the 22-year-old is a week or two from a senior comeback.

Richmond’s defence has mostly shone in his absence.

Last round, they kept top-placed Hawthorn to their lowest score this season, with David Astbury performing admirably as a third tall backman beside first-choice key defenders Alex Rance and Troy Chaplin.

Overall, the Tigers have conceded the third fewest points in the AFL this year, behind Fremantle and Sydney.

But Hardwick said there was definitely still a place for Grimes.

“No doubt. Listen, he’s an important player to our side,” Hardwick said on Thursday.

“He’s got the ability to play tall or small, we certainly like his versatility.

“He’s also a leader of our footy club so there’s certainly a spot available for him.

“We’ve just got to make sure we get some good solid football into him.”

Hardwick, whose side hosts Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday night, was confident there would be no letdown after their big win over Hawthorn.

“Our leadership group takes care of that,” he said.

“They’re very solid, those guys, they’ll certainly drive the playing group to make sure we get the required result.”

Hardwick said while the Lions have lost co-captain Jonathan Brown to a foot injury, they deserve respect as one of the AFL’s form sides, having won four of their past five games.