The chase of Richmond in this year’s AFL premiership race hinges on managing the injury curse

RICHMOND is the AFL pacesetter - and the wait for a team to step into the daylight behind the Tigers is being challenged by football’s injury curse.

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MALCOLM Blight’s infamous “footy gods” have much to answer. At a time when every football pundit is trying to assess which team will step into the daylight that is behind Richmond in the premiership race, the question becomes more complicated by injury curses.

Is it Port Adelaide? That “no-name defence” is to face a fascinating test if there is an extended absence of its best-known defender, All-Australian-contending Tom Jonas. His knee injury, suffered in the third term against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, opens the door for Jack Hombsch at a time when many wonder where he fits in the Power’s long-term plans.

Port Adelaide defender Tom Jonas ponders how much time a knee injury will keep him on the sidelines as the AFL premiership race becomes shaped by significant injuries to key players. Picture: Sarah Reed

Is it Sydney? Perhaps not when the Swans appear far from the real thing when there is not that “second” forward to work a meaningful tandem with power forward Lance Franklin. And now the most-imposing part of the Swans’ hard-at-it game is tested by injuries to valued midfielders, the latest being Kieren Jack (knee).

Is it West Coast? Not until its main forwards, Josh Kennedy and Jark Darling, come off the injury list. And then its midfield needs to deal the fatigue test.

Is it Collingwood? Can it be the Magpies when Nathan Buckley’s defence is being tested with injuries to Ben Reid (knee) and the season-ending knee injury to Lynden Dunn?

Is it Geelong? Interesting crew the Cats ... Brilliant enough to beat Sydney at the SCG (even with bad goalkicking conversion), but also capable of falling short against non-contender Essendon. Hence why the Cats are 9-6.

Richmond’s Jack Graham after suffering a shoulder injury on Friday night. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Even league-leading Richmond cannot escape the pain as was noted on Friday night as victory against the Crows was marked by injuries to Jack Graham (dislocated shoulder), Nathan Broad (cheekbone) and Dan Butler (ankle).

“It’s a brutal game,” said Power coach Ken Hinkley.

Those footy gods do have much to answer.

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