Richmond players’ touching show of support after Reece Conca suffers heartbreaking ankle injury

FOOTY fans witnessed one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the season last night, followed by one of the most heartwarming. And the final touch was the most moving.

Richmond players console teammate Reece Conca.

FOOTY fans witnessed one of the most heart-wrenching moments of the season last night, followed by one of the most heartwarming.

Injury-cursed Richmond midfielder Reece Conca lasted only 15 minutes in his 100th game before appearing to snap his ankle in a horrific incident against Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

AFL DAILY: DIMMA SLAMS ‘INVENTING FREE KICKS’

MATCH REPORT: FINALS PREVIEW ONE FOR ‘TIGER TOUGH’ FILES

RECAP: BUDDY, VLASTUIN SET TO COP MRO HEAT

Conca’s screams of agony could be clearly heard on the TV broadcast and the game stopped for several minutes while he was stretchered from the field sucking on painkillers.

But before he left every Richmond player went unprompted to Conca to show him their support, with star forward Daniel Rioli planting a kiss on his teammate’s forehead.

Also unnoticed by many was the gesture of Sydney’s Gary Rohan, who also spoke to Conca before he left the field. Rohan suffering a horror broken leg on the field in 2012.

A kiss for good luck? 😅

Daniel Rioli keeping it light as he gets around Reece Conca. #AFLTigersSwans pic.twitter.com/phuyakxafz

— AFL (@AFL) June 28, 2018

That's what it takes to win one. Every Tiger - and Gary Rohan - got to much loved figure Reece Conca, who delivered a massive fist pump to the Tiger army on his way off. Just shocking. #AFLTigersSwans https://t.co/J1b59m35Ug pic.twitter.com/xtlqdq1cYO

— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) June 28, 2018

Gary Rohan took time out of his 2016 Grand Final preparation to put an arm around Mitch Wallis, who was recovering from that broken leg, and asked how he was going. Tonight Rohan gets over to Reece Conca to wish him well. All class, Gary. #AFLTigersSwans

— Sam Landsberger 🗯 (@SamLandsberger) June 28, 2018

Richmond hero Jack Riewoldt, who took a career-high 16 marks and kicked three goals in a best-on-ground performance, summed up the injury in two words after the game: “To be honest, the only way to sum it up is: it sucks,” he told 3AW.

“It’s a cruel game, footy,” he said.

“It looked like a pretty severe injury.”

Legendary footy journalist Mike Sheahan described what happened next as “a powerful moment”.

“All the Richmond blokes going over to him, and Daniel Rioli bending down and giving him a kiss — the combraderie at Richmond was there for all to see,” he said on SEN.

The powerful bond between Richmond players was one of the key ingredients to their stunning 2017 premiership and Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said last night’s unprompted actions showed “it isn’t contrived in any way.”

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said: “I thought it was a pretty touching moment, it probably sums up our footy club, to see all of the players get to him. They just all got a touch on him, which is important.”

Reece Conca in agony after injuring his ankle against the Swans.

Tigers players console teammate Reece Conca as he is stretchered from the field.

Reece Conca gestures to the crowd as he is cheered off the field.

Hardwick said the Tigers didn't know the exact nature of the injury, holding out hope it may not be as bad as first thought.

“It was really disappointing for Reece.

“We’re not exactly sure of the extent of the injury at the moment. He’ll miss some footy, there’s no doubt about that, but the severity of it … we’re not exactly sure.

“He’s a very popular member of our football club. We really do wish him a speedy recovery, because he’s an important player for us.”

Defender Jayden Short said the Tigers were determined to win for their injured teammate.

“To see him go down like that in his 100th game, with all the injuries he has been through is pretty upsetting,” Short told foxfooty.com.au after the Tigers’ 26-point win.

“We said, ‘we want to win this for Reece’. We played as well as we could and got the win for Reece.

“It is so disappointing. Reece is an absolute character of the club and one of the most liked blokes.

“He will be back better than ever. It was disappointing to see, but we will get around him.”

I've not seen anything quite like the Richmond team reaction and group support following the Reece Conca injury. Dave Astbury supporting him, the whole team over to the buggy. It is just sport, but it was so touching. #AFLTigersSwans

— Emotional Support Peacock (@chris8875) June 28, 2018

What a beautiful moment at tonight’s game with the caring shown by #DanielRioli for his teammate after such a shocking injury to #ReeceConca
You have a very special young man there @Richmond_FC#ManLove #Respect pic.twitter.com/UsRGPboX5J

— Martine Grant (@MartiHawks) June 28, 2018

It’s hard to beat moments like this, and hard to beat teams who act like this. #gotiges pic.twitter.com/m2TI8dBeTT

— Cameron Grimes (@CameronEGrimes) June 28, 2018

Shattering to see Conca's injury in his 100th game. Touched by the players love and support around him. Be well Conca 😥 #gotiges

— James Moody (@moody_talks) June 28, 2018

MORE RICHMOND NEWS

Originally published as Richmond players’ touching show of support after Reece Conca suffers heartbreaking ankle injury