Richmond’s Josh Gibcus on track to be ‘one of the best key backs in the game’: Vlastuin
Nick Vlastuin knows a thing or two about being one of the best defenders in the competition, and the triple premiership star said Josh Gibcus was on track to be one before he was cruelled by an ACL.
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Josh Gibcus was on track to be “one of the best key backs in the game” by the midway point of this season before the Richmond youngster was struck down with a knee injury, according to defensive teammate Nick Vlastuin.
In just his second game back after persistent hamstring woes saw him miss the entire 2023 season, Gibcus ruptured his ACL when he landed awkwardly in Richmond’s round 1 loss to Carlton.
The young tall had surgery on Thursday and will soon begin his rehab in the hope of being ready for the start of next season.
The second lost year in a row was a cruel blow for the Tigers, with Gibcus their most promising young talent.
“He played as an 18-year-old as a key defender for the whole year (in 2022) and did pretty well so we were just excited,” Vlastuin said.
“He had the hammies issue last year and finally got over that this pre-season. I was thinking, in 10 weeks he could be one of the best key backs in the game.
“Then we were just devastated really, when he went down I didn’t really see it but when I saw the replay it looked horrific.”
Having had his 2023 season ruined by injury, Vlastuin was hopeful Gibcus would know the difficult of rehab and be able to deal with being separated from his teammates.
“The positive is he is only 20 now and he missed all of last year as well so he kind of knows what to expect, as harsh as that sounds,” Vlastuin said.
“It is more (difficult) in 6-10 weeks when he is in rehab by himself. All the meetings are pretty hard too, he is sitting in oppo meetings thinking ‘well I don’t really need to worry about the opposition for eight months’.
“It is touch but I don’t know the perfect way to do it, you just have to get around them as best you can.”
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Originally published as Richmond’s Josh Gibcus on track to be ‘one of the best key backs in the game’: Vlastuin
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