Conca’s injury nightmare overShayne Hope
West Australian
7 April 2017If an artist was to illustrate Richmond’s horror run with injury in recent seasons, Reece Conca would be the poster boy.
The sketch would be a caricature of a battered and bruised Conca on crutches, bandages wrapped around his head and ice packs strapped to each hamstring.
Such has been the 24-year-old’s rotten luck since his strong contribution to the Tigers’ barnstorming run towards the 2014 finals.
In the past two seasons he has managed just nine matches, owing largely to a succession of torn hamstrings that left him frustrated, angry and disillusioned.
But after impressive showings in Richmond’s unbeaten start to 2017, the one-time Perth junior is daring to dream of an injury-free campaign.
And maybe – hopefully – another finals series is on the horizon after the Tigers spent last season in the September wilderness.
“I’m feeling great,” Conca said.
“It’s great just to have a bit of continuity and the body’s feeling really good.
“Fingers crossed I can stay healthy and contribute in the way that I haven’t been able to in the last couple of years and we just keep winning.”
Conca, the No.6 pick in the 2010 draft, was seen as possible trade bait at the end of last year, having previously been linked to moves back to WA.
But he signed a fresh two-year contract with Richmond last September and finds himself in a new role this season, stationed across half-back with Brandon Ellis and charged with providing much needed drive and direction from backwards of centre.
He loves working under defensive coach Ben Rutten, the former Adelaide defender, with strong support from vice-captain Alex Rance and fellow defenders David Astbury and Dylan Grimes.
“They’ve all got behind me and it’s all going pretty well at the moment. ’Truck’ Rutten is a super coach,” Conca said.
“They wanted a bit more run and carry. It’s something I had to focus on in the pre-season and something that came quite naturally to me, which is good.”
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Coach Damien Hardwick has been rapt.
“I thought he was terrific,” Hardwick said after Conca racked up 18 disposals at a respectable 72 per cent efficiency in last week’s hard-fought win over Collingwood.
“He’s starting to find his feet again at AFL level.
“He’s a good player, Reece. He just needs some consistency in his preparation that’s going to lead to him having a good season.
“He completed most of the pre-season this year, I think 90 per cent, and there’s no coincidence that leads to good form.
“I think last year he was in really good form and then hurt his hamstring in that last (pre-season) game.
“He’s been really good and he’s only going to get better, too, once he gains confidence in his performances.”
Conca will need to if he wants to keep his spot in the side, as there has been no shortage of Tigers playing well at VFL level.
You could count on one hand the number of senior players out injured.
It’s the sort of depth Hardwick hasn’t had at his disposal for some time.
Anthony Miles and Sam Lloyd missed just three games between them last year, but couldn’t win spots in the round two team.
Ditto Peel product Kamdyn McIntosh, who played every game in his debut 2015 season before injuries cruelled him last year.
Conca’s form and fitness are indicative of a healthy squad heading into Saturday’s game against West Coast at the MCG, where two unbeaten sides will butt heads.
The Tigers are well rested, having enjoyed a nine-day break.
“We probably couldn’t be in a better place at the moment,” Hardwick said.
“We’re 2-0 and the vast majority of our list is healthy, which is important.
“It probably hasn’t been a strong suit of ours in the years previous with injury and form.
“Our medical staff and fitness staff have done a wonderful job getting guys in these sorts of positions.
“The players can take a lot of credit, too, with the way that they came back.
“They were hungry, they were disappointed with last year … and they’re starting to play some reasonable footy.”
https://thewest.com.au/sport/richmonds-reece-conca-hopes-his-injury-nightmare-is-finally-over-ng-b88437466z
