Docs have good news for Richardson
20 May 2007 Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph
RICHMOND yesterday received an improved injury report on full-forward Matthew Richardson - then turned its attention to who of Jack Riewoldt, Cleve Hughes or Kent Kingsley would replace him.
It was feared Richardson might need surgery for a fractured eye socket and maybe even a broken cheekbone after being hit by a stray boot from teammate Andrew Krakouer in the Tigers' loss to Port Adelaide.
But yesterday, a specialist told him he would miss 3-4 weeks after receiving 13 stitches on a cut above the fractured eye socket, as well as a broken nose.
"It's just a small crack, so I don't need an operation," Richardson told Channel 7 yesterday. "I won't play this week, but once the swelling goes down, I should be able to get back quickly."
Richardson will miss a stretch of games that starts with the Dreamtime at the 'G game against Essendon, and the Tigers seem likely to reward young Tasmanian forward Jack Riewoldt, who kicked two goals for Coburg yesterday.
But developing centre half-forward Cleve Hughes (two goals), dropped last week, and former Cat Kent Kingsley (five goals) are other options.
The Tigers will also need to determine whether promising on-baller Dean Polo needs surgery on his dislocated shoulder, after it popped out on Friday night.
Coach Terry Wallace said post-match he was unsure whether Polo could play on with the injury.
"He's got one of those shoulders that slips in and slips out," Wallace said.
"The problem with that type of injury is that he'll probably be feeling OK again by Wednesday or Thursday. If it's causing him irreparable damage, he'll go in and have it done. I think it could work out either way."
Richardson has missed 20 games in five years, and encouragingly the Tigers have won nine of them.
Assistant coach David King said yesterday the club would in coming days consider whether it was time to play Riewoldt.
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