Nathan Foley's season appears to be over after his achilles flared * Greg Denham
* The Australian
* July 02, 2010 A RECURRING achilles injury could prematurely end the season for Richmond midfielder Nathan Foley.
Foley, one of the quickest players in the competition, has had a stop-start career since breaking down in round 14 last year, which cut short his 2009 campaign. The 2007 Tigers best-and-fairest runner-up by one vote to Matthew Richardson, was leading Richmond's club champion count this time last year before breaking down.
Foley had surgery earlier this year, and after missing the first four rounds, he played four of the next five weeks before being again being restricted by soreness that the club's medical staff at the time believed to be a minor hiccup. But he has missed the past four rounds -- during which Richmond opened its account for the year and has since won another two games -- and has been ruled out of Sunday's clash with Sydney at the MCG.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick yesterday admitted to doubts that Foley, 24, would make a meaningful return this season.
All Hardwick could say about his quality midfielder was that the Tigers were being cautious, and the first-year coach could not put any time frame on the length of his current rehabilitation.
"We're hopeful at this stage, but confident, it's hard to say," Hardwick said. "It's taking longer than what we would like, obviously.
"We thought we'd be well on track with this at the moment but we're not prepared to take the punt that it mighty actually do some long-term damage so we'd rather be cautionary at this stage."
After missing just two of 66 games in his first three full seasons, Foley has played just four of the Tigers' past 21 matches and may require further surgery with the aim of being completely fit for next year.
Full article at:http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/nathan-foleys-season-appears-to-be-over-after-his-achilles-flared/story-e6frg7mf-1225886885061
