AFL Round 1 injury news: Matt Rowell to return mid-season after suffering PCL tear

Gifted youngster Matt Rowell has been told how long his knee injury will keep him out for, in what is a big blow to Gold Coast’s season.

Matt Rowell leaves the field after injuring his knee early in the match against West Coast. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Gold Coast sensation Matt Rowell will be sidelined for half the season after scans revealed a “moderate tear” to his posterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

The 19-year-old suffered the injury in the first quarter of their season opening clash against West Coast on Sunday, when he fell awkwardly in a tackle.

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Scans have confirmed a PCL tear, which will see Rowell in a knee brace for the next six weeks – after which club doctors will re-evaluate the strength in his left knee and provide a further update on his return to play.

It is hoped Rowell will be able to return after an eight to 12-week recovery – similar to teammate Zac Smith, who also injured his PCL in the pre-season and was given that same recovery time.

Matt Rowell looks on with teammates after injuring his knee in Round 1. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

It’s a huge blow to start the Suns 2021 campaign and is the second major injury in as many years for the rising Gold Coast talent.

Suns football manager Jon Haines said Rowell had been hit hard by the injury, but the club was on hand to support him.

“He’s flat, he loves the game,” Haines said.

“Stuey said last night that he (Rowell) loves the game more than most.

“At the same time, it’s no different to any other player in rehab.”

Haines also played down the hype around the injured youngster, labelling it as “disproportionate” to the situation.

“It is interesting the level of interest in him,” he said.

“In this case, it’s disproportionate to the injury itself and it’s disproportionate to the stage of his career.

“At the end of the day, he’s played six games and entering his second season.

Rowell landed heavily on his left knee during this Zac Langdon tackle. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

“From Matt’s point of view, he wants to be treated as another player in the Suns line-up and that’s how we treat him.

“We respect the level of interest externally, but internally he’s another Suns player we support and love and we’ll wrap our arms around him until he’s back really soon.”

The latest setback comes after the luckless Rowell suffered a season-ending shoulder dislocation in 2020, which required surgery.

Rowell’s early brilliance and contested-ball game means teams will continue to tackle him hard and make him earn every single possession.

But the Suns are aware both tackles that have caused damage – including the Brandan Parfitt tackle that saw him require a shoulder reconstruction – were fairly executed.

Matt Rowell will take no further part in the game after sustaining a knee injury in this tackle. #AFLEaglesSunspic.twitter.com/n6gfp1BaGF

— AFL (@AFL) March 21, 2021

Rowell hardly missed a game in his glittering junior career, so the Suns will hope the injuries are just freak luck for a player who they hope will be at the club for 12 or more years.

Rowell’s return was supposed to be the catalyst for Gold Coast’s rise up the ladder in 2021. And maybe with him still on the ground, there would have been a different result on Sunday.

BABY BULLDOG SIDELINED FOR EIGHT

Western Bulldogs youngster Ed Richards is set to miss up to eight weeks of football after undergoing surgery for a broken fibula on the weekend.

The 21-year-old suffered the injury playing in the VFL last Friday and was stretchered from the field late in the third quarter.

His ankle got caught in a tackle, which in turn caused his fibula to break.

Richards has surgery on Saturday after scans revealed the extent of the injury.

Western Bulldogs head of medical services Chris Bell said Richards would face more than two months on the sidelines.

“Unfortunately Ed got his ankle caught in a tackle, which caused his fibula to break,” Bell said.

Ed Richards will miss up to eight weeks after breaking his leg in the VFL.

“This injury did require surgery, which was completed on Saturday morning.

“We expect Ed to miss the next eight-to-10 weeks of football.”

Richards played almost every game for the Bulldogs last season, only missing the team’s opening round clash.

He has played 58 games since his debut in 2018.

In better news for the Bulldogs, off-season recruit Mitch Hannan (groin) and rookie Riley Garcia (knee) are both set to return to full training this week.

“We hope that both players will return to availability in the next 10 days,” Bell said.

Originally published as AFL Round 1 injury news: Matt Rowell to return mid-season after suffering PCL tear