‘Injuries keep coming at Richmond as cursed season takes down former No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor
The midfielder becomes the 16th player on the injury list and seventh without a set return date.
Another Richmond star has been sidelined after young gun Sam Lalor suffered a “partial Achilles injury” at training on Thursday.
He is the 16th player on the winless Tigers’ injury list ahead of Saturday’s clash with fellow strugglers West Coast in Perth.
Richmond said the former No.1 draft pick will be assessed in the coming days before a timeline is set for his return.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“We are disappointed for Sam, whose injury occurred during training on Thursday,” football boss Tim Livingstone said.
“Sam is the consummate professional who will attack his rehab with the necessary care and commitment.”
Of Richmond’s 16 out injured, Lalor is the seventh without a clear timeframe.
Josh Gibcus left the Tigers’ VFL game over the weekend with a knee concern and returned to play, only to be diagnosed with an ACL sprain.
“He will sit out the next little while as we decide what our course of action is going to be. It is an uncommon injury, so we need to be considered with our approach for his return to play,” fitness boss Ben Serpell said this week.
“We need to consult a number of different surgeons. We can see, for instance, Gab Seymour from our women’s program sustained a similar injury last year. She didn’t go through surgery, and she’s back out training.
“So we are hoping for the best for Josh. To be clear, this is not the same knee that Josh underwent reconstruction surgery for not long ago, and we’ll update our fans when we can on the course of action we’ll take with Josh Gibcus.”
Josh Smillie suffered a fresh tear of the quad injury he has been recovering from last week.
“To be clear, the original surgical site’s still intact, so we are going to shift him back to the TBC time frame,” Serpell said.
“Both Joshes (Smillie and Gibcus) are clearly very frustrated with their injuries at this point in time, as is everyone at the club.
“I think at this point in time it’s really important that we get our arms around these guys and support them through their respective recoveries and make sure that we get behind them as they progress forward.”
Judson Clarke (ACL) recently returned from a trip to the USA and is set to step up his training in May.
Rhyan Mansell and Tom Sims are dealing with foot issues while Taj Hotton is out with a hip injury.
Kaleb Smith (groin), Maurice Rioli (hamstring), Toby Nankervis (hamstring), Jasper Alger (knee), Harry Armstrong (foot), Zane Peucker (ankle), Hugo Ralphsmith (MCL) and Tim Taranto (concussion) and Sam Banks (collarbone) round out the Tigers’ injury list.
Serpell said Taranto progressed “very well” through concussion protocols and only needed to get through one more session to be named to face the Eagles.
But he did not join Jayden Short, Tyler Sonsie and Oliver Hayes-Brown among the ins. Ralphsmith, Lalor and Samson Ryan (dropped) made way.
West Coast, on the back of a horror month with losses of 128, 46, 56 and 101 points, dropped Bo Allan, Jack Williams and Sandy Brock with Harry Schoenberg, Tom Cole and Matt Owies returning to the side.
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
