Roach out for 6 weeks, Gas 2-3 weeks

[one-eyed]

Gaspar injury adds to Tiger woes
1:32:16 PM Sun 16 April, 2006
Paul Gough
Sportal for afl.com.au

Richmond's lack of height in defence is looming as a major problem after confirmation on Sunday that full-back Darren Gaspar will miss at least a fortnight after suffering a hamstring injury during the Tigers' 46-point loss to West Coast at Subiaco on Saturday night.

Gaspar's injury comes just a week after the loss of Jay Schulz for up to two months with a dislocated collarbone and promising young tall defender Will Thursfield for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

And to cap off a tough few weeks for the Tigers - who sit last on the ladder after three successive losses to start the season - young wingman Tom Roach looks set to miss at least six weeks with a broken jaw after accidentally being struck by teammate Shane Tuck's shoulder.

However Richmond is not the only club with injury worries with Geelong sweating on the results of an MRI scan on skipper Steven King's injured hamstring while Carlton has also sent Matthew Lappin for scans on his injured shoulder.

St Kilda lost dual Brownlow Medallist Robert Harvey for at least a fortnight and possibly up to a month on Thursday night with a hamstring injury.

Richmond football manager Paul Armstrong told afl.com.au on Sunday that Gaspar's injury occurred late in the game as he stretched down to go for a loose ball.

"It's a regulation hamstring injury so it will be a couple of weeks," Armstrong said of the Tigers' best defender.

With Gaspar, Schulz and Thursfield now all sidelined, the Tigers will have to rely on the likes of Andrew Kellaway and Joel Bowden to fill the key defensive positions when Richmond's tough start to the season continues when they meet Brisbane at the Gabba next Saturday night.

However ruckman Greg Stafford is a chance to return to the side to give the Tigers some much-needed height.

Stafford made his return from a calf injury in the VFL on Saturday and pulled up well.

Geelong football manager Garry Davidson said King would have a scan on Monday but the Cats are already resigned to being without their skipper for at least next week's clash against the Western Bulldogs.

King suffered the injury in the opening minutes of the Cats' shock 52-point home loss to Hawthorn and could miss up to a month if the scans reveal a tear.

The injury is to his right hamstring, which is not the one he injured during last year's semi-final loss to Sydney.

Davidson said defender Matthew Egan would also have scans on his injured shoulder but may only miss a week.

The Saints will be cautious with 34-year-old Harvey, who missed seven matches with three separate hamstring injuries last year.

But there is good news for the Saints with Justin Koschitzke expected to make his first appearance of the season next week following patella tendonitis while Fraser Gehrig faces a race against time to be fit for the Saints' next clash - which is not until Monday week against Port Adelaide - due to hamstring soreness.

And St Kilda skipper Luke Ball is expected to return next week after an abdominal strain.

http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=258132

[mightytiges]

With Brayshaw (inj), Lloyd (hammy) and hopefully Fevola (suspended) out over the next 3 weeks we can cope in defence.

Sauce says Chaffey did a calf yesterday during the Coburg game.

[julzqld]

What's the go with Kelvin Moore?

[mightytiges]

What's the go with Kelvin Moore?

Kel's coming back from a hip injury. He joined in the drills at training last Wednesday but stood out of the scratch match and did runs along the boundary instead.

[Moi]

Might be the deathknell of Roachy - poor kid.  Hope he can somehow get back quickly and find some form before probably being cut at the end of the year.  Last thing he needed 

[Ox]

best news ever re Gas.

Give somene - anyone - a chance.

Tuff break for roach,

[one-eyed]

Injuries: King-size blow
17 April 2006   Herald Sun
David Hastie

RICHMOND will be without key defender Darren Gasper after he also injured a hamstring on the weekend.

Like King, the full extent of Gasper's injury will not be known until today. Tigers coach Terry Wallace said it is disappointing for the club to lose another big defender after serious injuries to defenders Jay Schulz and Will Thursfield a week before against St Kilda.

"To lose one of the established defenders with last week the two developing defenders going down, that's a real disappointment," Wallace said. "We showed against West Coast that our stocks were depleted in that area.

"Guys who hadn't been really able to be damaging or dangerous forwards were able to (have an) impact against us."

Wallace said Ray Hall will be called on to fill the gaping hole left in the Tigers' backline.

"Ray has played a lot of football down in the backline," Wallace said.

"We had him run around with Cox just because he had the motor to go with him.

"Saturday night was his first game back in the side so he hasn't established himself anywhere this year.

"I suppose he'll be asked to put up his hand."

Richmond will also be without promising youngster Tom Roach for at least five weeks after he fractured his jaw during a collision with teammate Shane Tuck.

Wallace said Roach was shattered after the game.

"He was devastated last night," Wallace said.

"He went back on the ground twice knowing that he had the jaw most likely fractured."

It was Roach's first game for the Tigers since Round 1 last year.

"He would have had, I would have thought, a fairly frustrating 12 months," Wallace said.

"He's worked really hard over the summer.

"He was only an inch away from getting a game in the first two rounds and worked hard to get his opportunity."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18833116%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Round 3 medical room
17 April 2006   Herald Sun
Doc Larkins

Tom Roach RICHMOND

DIAGNOSIS

Sustained a fracture of the left jaw bone (mandible) during Saturday night's loss to West Coast. Returned to Melbourne with the team but will visit specialists today and is likely to undergo surgery.

DOC SAYS

The fracture is not severe and Roach may return in 5-6 weeks.

Darren Gasper RICHMOND

DIAGNOSIS

Strained his right hamstring during the final quarter of Saturday night's game in Perth.

DOC SAYS

Will undergo scans to determine the severity of the injury but is likely to miss 2-3 weeks.

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,18833122%255E25878,00.html

[one-eyed]

Injury Update
17 April 2006   

Trent Knobel (leg) - test
Greg Stafford (calf) - test
Kelvin Moore (hip) - 1 week
Darren Gaspar (hamstring) - 2 weeks
Jay Schulz (shoulder) - 5 weeks
Thomas Roach (jaw) 4-6 weeks
Will Thursfield (knee) - season

[mightytiges]

Roachy rocked up for a short while at the beginning of training and went up to the huddle on the ground to "say" hi where he got a clap from the group before heading off. He appeared in good spirits for someone with a broken jaw but he was all rugged up with a scarf and all and his face was as expected heavily swollen around the jaw and cheeks like a scene from the Godfather.