Daniel Rioli [merged]

[one-eyed]

Daniel Rioli aims for early-2018 running return

Anthony Colangelo
The Age
4 November 2017

Richmond's mosquito fleet-flyer Daniel Rioli is hopeful of returning to running training by early in the new year after undergoing surgery on a broken foot during the off-season.

Rioli broke his foot in the final quarter of Richmond's grand final triumph over the Adelaide Crows and had surgery in October, shortly after the game. He could be seen on crutches during the club's rapturous post-game celebrations.

He was present but did not take to the track on Monday as his fellow premiership teammates reported to Punt Road for day one of pre-season and their 2018 premiership defence.

The speedy forward could be seen in good spirits but was hobbling on his leg as his teammates trained. He has only just stopped wearing a moon boot.

Rioli has spent much of the off-season in the Tiwi Islands with family. The type of break Rioli suffered, understood to be in the middle of his foot, can be notoriously slow to recover.

Usually a two to three month injury the Tiger is progressing well in his rehabilitation and is on track to return to running early in the new year.

The 20-year-old was integral to the Tigers 2017 success thanks to his high pressure game in the forward line. He played every match for the season and kicked four goals in Richmond's preliminary final win over GWS.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/captain-trent-cotchin-vows-richmond-will-find-our-own-way-forward-as-reigning-afl-premiers-20171204-gzy1hg.html

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Higgins can keep his seat warm in the early rounds

[tdy]

So he misses 4 to 6 weeks of pre season. I still say we wont see him round 1. More like round 8 when he is match fit.

[Chuck17]

He was unbelievable in the final v GWS

[one-eyed]

Update from Peter Burge:

“Daniel Rioli, with his (broken) foot, he’s out of the (moon) boot now and walking around in his runners, which is a great sign. He’s doing a rehab program at the moment with some cross-training, weights all that type of stuff.

http://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2017-12-05/good-signs-on-tiger-injury-front

[one-eyed]

Daniel Rioli likely to miss round one of Richmond Tigers' 2018 AFL season

Anthony Colangelo
The Age
7 December 2017

Richmond premiership star Daniel Rioli will likely miss round one of the 2018 season as the club takes a "cautious" approach to helping the speedster recover from the "significant injury" he suffered in the 2017 grand final.

Rioli broke his foot in the final term of the Tigers' premiership win over Adelaide and spent most of the off-season in a moon boot after having surgery.

The 20-year-old only got out of his moon boot earlier this week. He will need to go under the knife again after Christmas to have metal plates removed from his foot, according to Richmond's general manager of football Neil Balme.

"We think he will play most of the year but he probably won't play round one would be our gut feel, but he isn't out of the question there just yet," Balme said.

"The fact that it's a significant injury we will be relatively cautious with it but in a high performance environment he will be pushing as hard as he can to get back as quick as he can. We won't take any risks on it.

"We are pleased with the way he is going ... We were quite happy with the flexibility, quite often it stiffens up so it wasn't it bad shape."

Rioli only made a fleeting appearance at training this week and the Tigers are happy to allow Rioli longer to recover if necessary given how bad the injury is. They have the luxury of being flush with small forwards, which means there is no great urgency about his return.

Rioli will soon begin running in an "AlterG" or zero-gravity running machine and his and the club's previously stated target of unassisted running by early 2018 remains in place, however moving into contact or game-running situations that early remains less likely.

Balme said there had been some damage to the ligaments underneath Rioli's broken bones, however this was not too significant and certainly not as bad as the damage done to Dane Swan at the start of 2016, an injury the ended the Collingwood star's career.

Balme was Collingwood's football boss at the time and saw how Swan's foot was decimated by the injury.

He said there were no concerns over Rioli's future.

"They're pretty confident [the medical staff] that ... if it heals properly it should be back to square one [for Rioli]."

Rioli was integral to the Tigers 2017 success thanks to his high-pressure game in the forward line. He played every match for the season and kicked four goals in Richmond's preliminary final win over GWS.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/daniel-rioli-likely-to-miss-round-one-of-richmond-tigers-2018-afl-season-20171207-h00rp6.html

[YellowandBlackBlood]

LMAO. They can say he'll miss round one from now but might play round two?

Not sure if serious.

[tdy]

Round 6 to 8 I reckon.

[Rodgerramjet]

If they are really serious about looking after him and they should be, their being very cagey about what the actual injury is, very general non specific data, bones, ligament etc, but what bones? what ligaments?

From this i gather, is a significant injury, i cannot see his return until mid season, no wonder we recruited Higgins.

[tdy]

It's a real tea leaf reading excerise interpreting official statements from AFL clubs.

[Yeahright]

If they are really serious about looking after him and they should be, their being very cagey about what the actual injury is, very general non specific data, bones, ligament etc, but what bones? what ligaments?

When do they ever really release this information though? What hamstring(s) has Grimes done? What bone, ligament or other structure was wrong with Hammers back? What part of Astbury's or Short's shoulder needed surgery?

[one-eyed]

Rioli, 20, broke his foot in the stunning Grand Final win over Adelaide and required immediate surgery.

The third-year goalkicker is facing an uphill battle to be fit to play in the Round 1 season-opener against Carlton at the MCG on Thursday March 22.

Football chief Neil Balme said today the Tigers were buoyed by Rioli’s progress but would not take any risks with the exciting youngster.

The Tigers have a bunch of quality small forward replacement options and are likely to be extremely cautious with Rioli’s recovery, likely putting him in some doubt for early-season matches.

“We are really happy with how he is going, but there is obviously no rush with it,” Balme said.

Source: Herald-Sun

[one-eyed]

Star Tiger 'touch and go' for opening round

Ryan Davidson
afl.com.au
Jan 18, 2018

RICHMOND star Daniel Rioli is in doubt for round one as he recovers from a broken ankle sustained in the Tigers' Grand Final victory over Adelaide.

The 20-year-old will only start running next week after undergoing surgery in October to repair his left ankle.

Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch told RSN radio on Thursday Rioli is racing the clock to face arch rival Carlton in an opening round blockbuster at the MCG on March 22.

"He'll be touch and go for round one. There's no doubt it will be close but we're hoping he'll be OK," Leppitsch said.

"He's going OK and about to run next week."

Rioli is an integral part of Richmond's dangerous small forward line, with the Northern Territory product's 25 goals last season supplemented by fierce tackling pressure and an ability to make something out of nothing.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2018-01-18/star-tiger-touch-and-go-for-opening-round

[Hard Roar Tiger]

It sounds like typical Richmond spin, surely they wouldn't feel the need to bulltish the injury list after last year?

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

I thought there was no chance he'd be ready for that game?