Injury Update 2025

[WilliamPowell]

With Lalor’s hammy, that’s now 3 of our draftees done a hammy, in smilies case 3 times now?, in the first half of the year. That can’t be a coincidence.

I recall Serpell or the club atleast saying they would be on a modified program in the off season, I wonder if that’s still continuing ? I think I also recall Serpell talking about high intensity, short sessions, like sprints ? Repeat efforts etc.

Wonder if that’s had a bad effect on the young boys.

I know I'm in the minority but I think people are readng far too much into it. All CLubs are having issues with soft tissue injuries. Have said it many times the shorter pre-season has alot to with it IMHO

Re our 3 draftees - developing bodies dealing with the rigors of AFL. Lalor was on a modified program when he was first drafted. He's strained the hamstring he severely injured last year in his draft year. So the Club decides to go down to the conservative path (again and correctly I might add) and people are up in arms about it. I see on CH7 news they ran story as Lalor's going to miss up to 6 weeks. Talk about over the top. What would people prefer? they go down the 21 days route and he goes out does it again? Damn if they damn if they don't

Armstrong, freak accident at training. Smilie, yes he's done it 3 times so this time they are concentrating on strengthening the hammy and his entire core strength and low and behold people are not happy. these kids are our future better to take time with these things now and get it right

I do remember a 3 time premiership player having hammy issues at the start of his career

[Hard Roar Tiger]

I have a foot in your camp Wilbur but think club could have rested him on a 5 day break.

[WilliamPowell]

Injury Report: Round 12, 2025

The skipper returns, while two young Tigers face setbacks.

By Richmond Media
3 hrs ago

High Performance Manager Ben Serpell gives his injury update as Richmond prepares to travel to Sydney, where it will take on the GWS Giants this Saturday.

Despite missing out on Friday night’s Dreamtime clash with Essendon, Serpell confirmed Tigers captain Toby Nankervis will be available for selection this week, after being managed by the Club.

“Toby Nankervis has been carrying a knee injury, like many ruckmen,” Serpell said.

“He is a bit of a machine to be honest, but last week we decided to rest him because we had an opportunity to.

“In fact, we had to hold him back from playing, but we think we have managed him quite well and definitely available for selection this week.”

Two young Tigers, Sam Lalor and Thomson Dow, will unfortunately spend time on the sidelines after sustaining injuries in last week’s match.

Dow has suffered a dislocated kneecap, seeing him sidelined for the next six to eight weeks, while number one draft pick Lalor has suffered a hamstring injury, seeing him miss the next four to six weeks.

Despite the added injuries, Serpell took confidence in the returns of Dion Prestia and Tylar Young, who competed in the side's VFL match on Saturday night against Essendon.

“They both did really well,” Serpell said.

“Dion had a smile on his face and enjoyed his time out there, and Tylar had a really big impact from what I understand, so a great return to play from both of them.”

Tom Lynch: Concussion, Test

“Lynchy has to get through the last couple of stages of his concussion protocol,” Serpell said.

“That involves a bit of contact at training today and then a full contact session later in the week.

“If he gets through that symptom-free, then he will be available for selection this weekend against GWS.”

Mate Colina: Knee, Test

“I’m glad to say that Mate is expected to be available this week, but again, we just got to get through the main training session during the week,” Serpell said.

“If he gets through that symptom-free then he will be available for selection.”

Jayden Short: Calf, 1-2 weeks

“Sadly, Shorty’s calf injury isn’t progressing as well as we would have liked,” Serpell said.

“As we said last week, we are going to look after our players, and it will probably be another week before we can give an indication of where he is coming back to.

“In addition to his calf injury, we have to make sure he is conditioned for the game, so probably another week or two before we see him.”

Sam Lalor: Hamstring, 4-6 weeks

“Sammy Lalor had a re-aggravation of his hamstring injury that he sustained prior to coming to the Club,” Serpell said.

“Unfortunately for him, he is going to miss a bit of gametime, thankfully it’s only going to be around about three games though.”

Thomson Dow: Patella, 6-8 weeks

“Unfortunately, Thomson Dow dislocated his kneecap,” Serpell said.

“We will see how he progresses clinically over the next little while.”

Taj Hotton: ACL, 4-7 weeks
Josh Gibcus: ACL, 5-8 weeks

“Both Taj and Gibbo are going really well,” Serpell said.

“We expect to see them out training in the next few weeks without a non-contact hat on.

“About four or so weeks of that and we can expect to see them out playing again, so progressing well.”

Harry Armstrong: Hamstring, 6-8 weeks                       

“Harry is still chipping away,” Serpell said.

“It’s a long process for him, and again, not many real updates for him, but we will bring his return to play forward by a week.”

Josh Smillie: Hamstring, TBC

“Smillie is progressing quite well, but again not really many updates on him,” Serpell said.

“We want to focus on his development from an athletic perspective.

“The hamstring itself is looking quite good, but we want to make sure that he is ready to play senior football as soon as possible and make sure he is robust for that.”

Injury List

19. Tom Lynch: Injury: Concussion, Est. Return: Test

39. Mate Colina: Injury: Knee, Est. Return: Test

15. Jayden Short: Injury: Calf, Est. Return: 1-2 weeks

22. Sam Lalor: Injury: Hamstring, Est. Return: 4-6 weeks

24. Taj Hotton: Injury: ACL, Est. Return: 4-7 weeks

18. Josh Gibcus: Injury: ACL, Est. Return: 5-8 weeks

27. Thomson Dow: Injury: Patella, Est. Return: 6-8 weeks

34. Harry Armstrong: Injury: Hamstring, Est. Return: 6-8 weeks

16. Josh Smillie: Injury: Hamstring, Est. Return: TBC

Last Updated: 4:58 PM Monday, May 26, 2025


https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1791747/injury-report-round-12-2025

[Simonator]

With Lalor’s hammy, that’s now 3 of our draftees done a hammy, in smilies case 3 times now?, in the first half of the year. That can’t be a coincidence.

I recall Serpell or the club atleast saying they would be on a modified program in the off season, I wonder if that’s still continuing ? I think I also recall Serpell talking about high intensity, short sessions, like sprints ? Repeat efforts etc.

Wonder if that’s had a bad effect on the young boys.

I know I'm in the minority but I think people are readng far too much into it. All CLubs are having issues with soft tissue injuries. Have said it many times the shorter pre-season has alot to with it IMHO

Re our 3 draftees - developing bodies dealing with the rigors of AFL. Lalor was on a modified program when he was first drafted. He's strained the hamstring he severely injured last year in his draft year. So the Club decides to go down to the conservative path (again and correctly I might add) and people are up in arms about it. I see on CH7 news they ran story as Lalor's going to miss up to 6 weeks. Talk about over the top. What would people prefer? they go down the 21 days route and he goes out does it again? Damn if they damn if they don't

Armstrong, freak accident at training. Smilie, yes he's done it 3 times so this time they are concentrating on strengthening the hammy and his entire core strength and low and behold people are not happy. these kids are our future better to take time with these things now and get it right

I do remember a 3 time premiership player having hammy issues at the start of his career

It’s not about the club going down the conservative path once he’s injured it, it’s that he got injured in the first place. I’m a believer in bad luck, but for 3 of our draftees to sustain the same injury can not be a coincidence. Perhaps they needed more rest, or to continue to be on a different program, we obviously don’t know. But what’s for sure is that what they have done hasn’t worked

[WilliamPowell]

Both Smillie and Armstrong are on special programs due to their current injuries. Prior to those injuries they were not on special programs

Lalor was on a modified program when 1st drafted but has been on the regular program since Feb.

I will say it again every club is having issues with soft tissue injuries. It’s not like the RFC are the only Club facing it. Soft tissue injuries have been on the rose since the AFLPA demanded a shorter preseason in the latest CBA, that is definitely not a coincidence

[Tiger Khosh]

Touch wood that in 6 weeks we can be looking forward to seeing Lalor, Smillie, Hotton, Gibcus and Armstrong playing footy.

[one-eyed]

Injury Report: Round 13, 2025

Player                    Injury          Estimated Return

Jayden Short             Calf               1 week
Sam Lalor             Hamstring         3-5 weeks
Josh Smillie         Conditioning       3-5 weeks
Taj Hotton                ACL              3-6 weeks
Josh Gibcus              ACL              4-7 weeks
Harry Armstrong   Hamstring         5-7 weeks
Thomson Dow         Patella            5-8 weeks

----------------------------------------------

High Performance Manager Ben Serpell provides the Round 13 Injury Report ahead of Richmond’s clash with the Sydney Swans this weekend.

Jayden Short: Calf, 1 week

“Last week we said he was about 1 to 2 weeks away, and I’m happy to say that is still the case,” Serpell said.

“He is still at least one game away, and he is progressing well and starting to get some real inroads in his training sessions.”

Sam Lalor: Hamstring, 3-5 weeks

“He is doing really well and on track,” Serpell said.

“Not a lot of progress to report on there, but his rehab is going well, and we expect to see him out within that timeframe that we originally said. We will just bring his return to play forward a week.”

Josh Smillie: Conditioning, 3-5 weeks

“From a hamstring health perspective, he is pretty good, but we feel like he needs to go through a conditioning block," Serpell said.

“We are going to continue with that over the next week, and we will expect to see him coming back soon after the bye.”

Last week, head coach Adem Yze said Smillie is "progressing nicely...right now, it's more around what he's doing in the gym and things like that. Really strengthening it before he gets going". Read more from Yze here.

Taj Hotton: ACL, 3-6 weeks

“Taj is progressing really well,” Serpell said.

“Last week was his first week of full-contact training, so we will see him do that over the next couple of weeks. We will hopefully see him back playing soon after the bye.”

Josh Gibcus: ACL, 4-7 weeks

“Gibo is doing quite well,” Serpell said.

“He is probably just a little bit behind him (Hotton), so it’s a bit of a race to get back to play with both of them. Both are doing really well, and Gibo is going to integrate some more contact drills over the next couple of weeks.”

Harry Armstrong: Hamstring, 5-7 weeks

“He is starting to look like a bit of an athlete,” Serpell said.

“He is doing well with Dan Bailey in rehab. We are just going to bring his return to play forward a week.”

Thomson Dow: Patella, 5-8 weeks

“Not too much to report on Dowy,” Serpell said.

“We are just waiting to see how he responds clinically following that kneecap dislocation. His return to play we can expect to bring forward a week.”

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1797296/injury-report-round-13-2025

[one-eyed]

Samson is injured as well with foot soreness.

[Willy]

Taj is set to play post-bye.

[Damo]

Josh Smillie is the interesting one
I’ve never seen players out injured for “conditioning block”

Does that mean he’s unfit ? Considering the hamstring is pretty good.

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Josh Smillie is the interesting one
I’ve never seen players out injured for “conditioning block”

Does that mean he’s unfit ? Considering the hamstring is pretty good.

I am assuming that they are getting specific about what it is in his body which is susceptible to hamstring injury - it might be his running technique or he might need to strengthen other parts around the hamstring to avoid it getting over worked. I am clearly not a strength and conditioning expert but would support a tailored program for him given the set backs this year

[Damo]

Josh Smillie is the interesting one
I’ve never seen players out injured for “conditioning block”

Does that mean he’s unfit ? Considering the hamstring is pretty good.

I am assuming that they are getting specific about what it is in his body which is susceptible to hamstring injury - it might be his running technique or he might need to strengthen other parts around the hamstring to avoid it getting over worked. I am clearly not a strength and conditioning expert but would support a tailored program for him given the set backs this year

Fair enough 

[one-eyed]

Injury Report: Round 14, 2025

High Performance Manager Ben Serpell provides an update on Judson Clarke, Campbell Gray, Taj Hotton and plenty of other Tigers in this week's injury report.

Jayden Short: Calf, Test

“He has started to make some gains, but he will remain a test for when we face the Western Bulldogs in Round 15,” Serpell said.

Taj Hotton: ACL, Test

“Taj is progressing well," Serpell said.

"He has increased his training load unrestricted and is completing a good volume of football. With more exposure towards the end of this week and next week, we’d expect to see him return to play in the week of AFL Round 15.”

Sam Lalor: Hamstring, 2-4 weeks
Josh Smillie: Conditioning, 2-4 weeks

“They are both progressing running loads well and increasing strength," Serpell said.

“We can say they are both likely to return between AFL Rounds 16 and 18.”

Josh Gibcus: ACL, 3-6 weeks

“Gibcus is entering the final stages of his rehab, and I can comfortably say that he’s only 3-6 weeks away from returning to play,” Serpell said.

Harry Armstrong: Hamstring, 4-6 weeks

“Harry is progressing well and beginning to integrate into footy,” Serpell said.

“It was quite a significant injury, so we are treating him quite conservatively while also balancing the need for him to get involved with more football for him to develop.”

Thomson Dow: Patella, 4-7 weeks

Serpell said Dow is “making slow progress" on his patella injury.

Campbell Gray: Knee, TBC

“As reported over the weekend, Campbell sustained a posterolateral knee injury,” Serpell said.

“We will allow Campbell to rest this week and try to put together some timelines later in the week once we return to training.”

Judson Clarke: ACL, Season

“We will consult a surgeon this week and work with Judson and the surgeon on deciding the best course of action surrounding impending surgery,” Serpell said.

“His season will be over.”

‐-------‐--------------------------------------

Injury List


Jayden Short                Calf                      Test
Taj Hotton                      ACL                     Test
Sam Lalor                 Hamstring           2-4 weeks
Josh Smillie            Conditioning         2-4 weeks
Josh Gibcus                  ACL                  3-6 weeks
Harry Armstrong      Hamstring           4-6 weeks
Thomson Dow            Patella               4-7 weeks
Campbell Gray              Knee                    TBC
Judson Clarke               ACL                  Season

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1802535/injury-report-round-14-2025

[Andyy]

So guys like Armstrong and Gibcus could realistically play a handful of games at the end of the year.

If it's worth it.

Gotta think about that.

[Simonator]

Always worth it for mine. The ultra conservative approach has been taken, why hold
Them back even more. Let them play and get some momentum for the off season and 2026