Injury curse claims Richardson
19 May 2007 Herald-Sun
Mark Robinson
RICHMOND'S season plunged to new depths last night when it lost key forward Matthew Richardson for up to eight weeks with a suspected fractured eye socket.
Richardson was forced from the field at AAMI Stadium during a tense last quarter in which the winless Tigers levelled the scores before Adelaide hit back to register a nine-point win.
Richardson, who was rushed to hospital at the end of the game, was injured in the 14th minute. He dropped a mark and then had teammate Andrew Krakouer accidentally rake a boot across his face.
He left the field with blood pouring from his eye and nose.
Coach Terry Wallace remained upbeat despite another injury to his talls, but acknowledged Richardson's exit had swung the momentum of the game.
"Obviously Matthew going down hurt us and it had a big impact, and credit to them, they were able to steady and win the game," Wallace said.
"We think it's a fractured eye socket, so you'd say it's a 6-8 week injury. I'm not the surgeon, so we'll wait for what the reports says.
"But it's another tall, and another senior player, and that's been our lot this year.
"I don't know what we've done to deserve that lot, but that's where it is.
"The other thing is that we're losing senior players but it's allowing us to play other players within the structure."
Richardson joins other experienced players such as Trent Simmonds, Nathan Brown, Mark Coughlan, Ray Hall and Trent Knobel on the sidelines.
His expected two-month layoff soured what was a statement game from the Tigers last night.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21757910%255E19742,00.html
