Richmond positive about injury progress of top draft pick yet to be seen at AFL level

Richmond has unleashed a large number of their bumper haul of top drafts picks from last year, but one of the most exciting is yet to be seen.

Richmond fans have a timeline for when they could see each of last year’s first-round draftees in action, as Josh Smillie makes positive steps towards his recovery.

Taken at pick seven in last year’s bumper draft haul by the rebuilding Tigers, Smillie’s highly anticipated debut has been on delay after he suffered a second hamstring setback of the season.

The first tweak hindered Smillie’s pre-season and the second postponed his momentum towards game one, leaving fellow draftees, including No.1 pick Sam Lalor, to get their AFL careers going before he could.

But Richmond coach Adem Yze provided an encouraging update on Wednesday, clarifying Smillie’s “TBC” on the club’s injury list as “four to six weeks”.

“Ben (Serpell, high performance manager) will give that timeline, but he’s (Smillie) travelling really well, he’s running,” Yze said.

Josh Smillie is four to six weeks away, according to coach Adem Yze. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“(Serpell) will obviously talk about that more than I will. but he’s (Smillie) not that far away, it could be four to six weeks.

“I think it will be closer to four, which is good. He’s progressing nicely, we just wanted to make sure we set a really good plan for him.”

Yze said Smillie would undergo another training block to build fitness.

Richmond held Smillie to limited minutes in the VFL after his first injury and applied the same process to premiership midfielder Dion Prestia last week.

“There’s obviously going to be his return to play from the injury and then the amount of training load,” Yze said.

“We want him to come back and really set himself for that back part of the year, that’s the only reason why it’s TBC right now.

“It was (the same injury as earlier in the year) but it was minor, he’s in the gym to really strengthen it, that’s why it might be a little bit longer.”

Serpell said Smillie was recovering well but would take all measures necessary to ensure he was “robust” enough for senior football.

“Smillie is progressing quite well, we want to focus on his development from an athletic perspective,” Serpell said.

Richmond could have each of its six top-round draftees available for Collingwood in round 20. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The hamstring itself is looking quite good, but we want to make sure that he is ready to play senior football as soon as possible and make sure he is robust for that.”

Taj Hotton (Pick No.12) and Smillie are the only two first-round picks the Tigers’ supporters are yet to get a glimpse of.

But Hotton is set to join training and build towards playing in coming weeks.

“We expect to see (Hotton and Josh Gibcus) out training in the next few weeks without a non-contact hat on,” Serpell said.

“About four or so weeks of that and we can expect to see them out playing again.”

With Harry Armstrong (hamstring) about eight weeks away, Richmond could field all six of its first-round draftees against Collingwood in round 20.

Originally published as Richmond positive about injury progress of top draft pick yet to be seen at AFL level