Key medical updates from the Swinburne Centre ahead of Richmond’s Gather Round clash with GWS.
Richmond’s High Performance Manager Ben Serpell has provided a positive update on exciting Tiger youngster Sam Cumming, after he returned to the field via the VFL this past weekend.
Making his return from a shoulder injury, Cumming amassed 11 disposals and six tackles on limited game time in Richmond’s VFL win over St Kilda on Sunday.
“Sam got through the game pretty well, no shoulder soreness in the end, and also he was very confident in that shoulder. Obviously, we saw him play managed minutes, and we’re happy for him to play a full game in the next couple of weeks,” Serpell said.
Serpell also discussed the status of several Tigers heading into Gather Round below.
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Hugo Ralphsmith: Knee, Test
Noah Balta: Hamstring tightness, Test
“We pulled them both out of the game (last week) as a very precautionary approach,” Serpell said.
“Noah pulled up with a bit of hamstring tightness out of training, and then Hugo Ralphsmith, we thought we’d take a week to look after his knee, which he’s been carrying for a little while.
“Both are expected to get through training tomorrow and be available for selection this weekend.”
Josh Gibcus: Soreness, Test
“Similar to Hugo and Balta, we thought we’d give Josh Gibcus a rest last week. We have a low threshold for where he’s at, and he pulled up a bit sore from the (VFL) game prior. Given he’s not played many games the last two years, we thought we’d take the opportunity to give him a rest and see him back out there in the next week or two,” Serpell said.
Josh Smillie: Quad, 4-6 weeks
“(Smillie) is doing really well,” Serpell said.
“He’s back to running around about 90 per cent, and he’s starting to do a bit of kicking as well. We’re really confident where he’s at…but given where he’s come from, the surgery, and a few other things, we anticipate him closer to six weeks.”
Knee
Test
Ralphsmith missed the Round 4 AFL game due to knee soreness.
Hamstring tightness
Test
Balta missed the Round 4 AFL game with hamstring tightness.
Soreness
Test
Gibcus missed the Round 3 VFL game with soreness.
Hamstring
2-3 weeks
Lynch injured his hamstring in the Round 2 game against Gold Coast.
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Quad
4-6 weeks
Smillie suffered a quad strain during a rehab session, further delaying his return.
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Hamstring
4-6 weeks
Nankervis injured his hamstring in the Round 2 game against Gold Coast.
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MCL
7 weeks
Alger suffered a high-grade MCL injury in Round 3 against Fremantle.
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Foot
7 weeks
Harry Armstrong suffered a bone stress in his foot during the Round 3 match with Fremantle.
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Foot
TBC
Mansell presented foot soreness to the Club in March and will undergo surgery to treat bone stress.
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Hip
TBC
Hotton suffered a bone stress in his hip after the February 20 practice match against Essendon.
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Foot
TBC
Sims sustained a ulnar collateral ligament injury in the Round 20 VFL game against Sandringham. Routine end-of-season medicals also found a navicular stress fracture in his foot.
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ACL
TBC
Clarke ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the Round 11 VFL game against Sydney last year.
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Injury: Knee
Est. Return: Test
21. Noah Balta
Balta missed the Round 4 AFL game with hamstring tightness.
Injury: Hamstring tightness
Est. Return: Test
Injury: Soreness
Est. Return: Test
Injury: Hamstring
Est. Return: 2-3 weeks
Injury: Quad
Est. Return: 4-6 weeks
Injury: Hamstring
Est. Return: 4-6 weeks
Injury: MCL
Est. Return: 7 weeks
Injury: Foot
Est. Return: 7 weeks
Injury: Foot
Est. Return: TBC
Injury: Hip
Est. Return: TBC
38. Tom Sims
Sims sustained a ulnar collateral ligament injury in the Round 20 VFL game against Sandringham. Routine end-of-season medicals also found a navicular stress fracture in his foot.
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Injury: Foot
Est. Return: TBC
23. Judson Clarke
Clarke ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee during the Round 11 VFL game against Sydney last year.
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Injury: ACL
Est. Return: TBC